Nation in brief

Market opens with thoughts for 10 killed

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Farmers, vendors and customers joined hands and embraced Saturday to reopen the farmers market where a car hit as many as 50 people Wednesday, killing 10 of them.

"Our feelings remain raw," said Mayor Richard Bloom. "I encourage every one of you today to embrace one another. ... Talk to one another, talk about what happened."

Trucks were in place Saturday at both ends of the market to prevent anything like the tragedy in which Russell Weller, 86, crashed his Buick sedan through the market. Police were investigating whether Weller might have hit a Mercedes and was speeding away from that collision when he plowed into the market.

KANKAKEE, Ill. - A van carrying 18 people overturned on a highway Saturday and 16 people were ejected when the vehicle's roof was torn off. Two young boys were killed, authorities said.

Police found no child safety seats, said State Police Master Sgt. Scott Koerner.

"The roof area is peeled back from contact to a large highway sign," Koerner said. "On the surface, if people are ejected we would assume that people are not wearing their (seat) belts."

The driver lost control and overcorrected on Interstate 57 south of Kankakee, police said.

A 3-year-old boy died at the scene and an 8-month-old boy died at a hospital, Iroquois County Coroner Bill Cheatum said. He said the boys were traveling with relatives. The condition of other passengers was unavailable.

NEW YORK - Dozens of people were treated for smoke inhalation early Saturday after a fire broke out beneath a subway train at the York Street Station in Brooklyn, authorities said.

Charles Seaton, a spokesman for New York City Transit, said about 100 people were evacuated about 3:15 a.m.

No one was seriously injured, but 65 people were taken to local hospitals, all for smoke inhalation, said Robert Calise, a Fire Department spokesman. Loose equipment cause the fire, officials said.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright