Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Doctor sued in autistic boy's chelation death

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The parents of a 5-year-old autistic boy who died after receiving a chemical treatment sued the doctor who administered it for wrongful death.

Mawra and Rufai Nadama, who live in Great Britain, accused Dr. Roy Kerry of causing their son, Tariq, to die of cardiac arrest at Kerry's office immediately after the boy received chelation therapy on Aug. 23, 2005.

Chelation removes heavy metals from the body and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration only for acute heavy-metal poisoning that has been confirmed by blood tests.

Some people who believe autism is caused by a mercury-containing preservative once used in vaccines say chelation may also help autistic children.

Kerry, of Greenville, did not immediately return a message left at his office Monday.

The Nadamas are also suing ApotheCure Inc., of Dallas, which they contend supplied the chelation solution but allegedly did not provide appropriate warnings and instructions about its use.

-GoErie.com, Monday, July 9th, 2007

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Van rolls into Conn. pond, killing 3

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A woman chased her minivan as it rolled down a steep hill and jumped in before it sank into a pond Wednesday, killing her and two children inside and leaving a third child in critical condition, authorities said.

The woman, who was the mother of at least one of the children, had gotten out of the van, then noticed it was rolling away and jumped back in before it went into the water, Police Chief Bryan Norwood said.

The van rolled about 60 or 70 yards into Bunnell's Pond at Beardsley Park, where many people had gathered to celebrate the holiday.

The victims were trapped inside in 15 to 20 feet of water for 20 to 25 minutes before members of the Bridgeport police scuba team were able to pull them out. Rescuers tried to revive them before they were taken to local hospitals.

Fire Battalion Chief Ismael Pomales said the woman apparently got out of the van to ask directions to a Fourth of July barbecue, but police would not confirm that Wednesday night.

"It's horrible," Pomales said. "We've had children die before. That's probably one of the toughest things for any rescue person to deal with."

Their names were not immediately released because officials were notifying relatives.
All three children were under 7 years old, officials said. Bridgeport Hospital spokesman John Cappiello confirmed that two of the children died.

A third was sent to Yale-New Haven Hospital. Hospital officials said the surviving child, a 6-year-old boy, was in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

The woman was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center, where she also died, Pomales said.
People nearby tried unsuccessfully to stop the van, Pomales said. Fire personnel could not reach the people inside the vehicle. The Bridgeport Police Department's scuba team arrived a few minutes later and removed the victims from the van.

Beardsley Park was closed while emergency crews worked but later reopened.

-USAtoday.com, Thursday, July 5th, 2007

Monday, July 2, 2007

Female worker killed on N.Y. park ride

RYE, N.Y. (AP) — A safety precaution put in place for a thrill ride after a fatal accident five years ago wasn't being followed when a worker was killed on the same ride, an amusement park official acknowledged Saturday.

Gabriela Garin, 21, died Friday night after she was thrown from the Mind Scrambler at Rye Playland, a National Historic Landmark on Long Island Sound about 25 miles north of midtown Manhattan.

The single mother had made her first visit to the park when she was a youngster and spent the last seven years working there.

"She grew up in this place, and this place took her away from us," said her weeping sister, Ruby Garin. "She used to come here when she was 3 years old. It wasn't her fault."

The ride was immediately shut down for the rest of the summer. Two other rides at the park — Power Surge and Go-Karts — that are owned by the same company also will close indefinitely while its safety procedures are inspected, said park spokesman Peter Tartaglia.

In 2004, a 7-year-old girl wiggled free of the restraining bar on one of the Mind Scrambler's cars, knelt on the seat and fell to her death soon after the ride started, according to investigators.

The park was not cited for any violations or required to make improvements to the ride after the child's death, although officials announced plans to add seat belts, more lighting and a second attendant at the Mind Scrambler.

No second attendant was on duty in the booth when Garin died, Tartaglia said.

Her sisters described Garin as a responsible, hard-working mother who was devoted to her child and careful on the job.

"This is a savvy young lady, bright, who was working here since she was 14 years old," Spano said. "She knows this ride like the back of her hand."

She was employed by S & L Amusements, the company that owned the Mind Scrambler.

Company officials did not respond to calls and e-mails seeking comment Saturday.

It was the fourth death in as many years at the county-owned Playland, which opened in 1928 and was the amusement park featured in the 1988 Tom Hanks film "Big."

-USAtoday.com, Saturday, June 30th, 2007