Latest news with #ChevroletTraverse
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man dies after being hit by SUV on Route 301 in Charles County, police say
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. () — A 44-year-old man died after he was hit by a car while trying to cross U.S. Route 301 (Crain Highway) in Charles County on Friday, according to police. Just before 2 p.m., troopers from Maryland State Police and deputies from the Charles County Sheriff's Office responded to U.S. Route 301 just north of Smallwood Drive for a serious collision involving a vehicle. Two hurt in crash involving Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service tanker At the scene, police learned that a Chevrolet Traverse driven by a 21-year-old man was traveling north of Smallwood Drive on Crain Highway when a pedestrian, identified as Edward Coates, 44, of Waldorf, was trying to cross the northbound lanes of the highway. That's when, for unknown reasons, Coates crossed into the travel path of the SUV, and it hit him, according to MSP. Medics tried to save Coates, but he died at the scene. Police noted that he was not in a marked or 'implied' crosswalk at the time of the crash. MSP urges anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Sergeant J. Zimmerman of the MSP CRASH Team at (301) 392-1231 or email a statement to The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Karen Read murder trial: Three things to know now that the prosecution has rested
After six weeks and dozens of witnesses, Massachusetts prosecutors retrying Karen Read on a murder charge in the widely publicized death of her boyfriend three years ago rested their case Thursday. While the theory put forward by special prosecutor Hank Brennan was the same as that offered by the assistant district attorney who previously tried the case — Read, drunk and angry, struck Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV and left him for dead on Jan. 29, 2022 — there were some notable changes from Read's first trial, which ended with a hung jury last summer. Absent were two high-profile witnesses who were key to the defense's claims that Read was framed. Also missing was the former Massachusetts state trooper who led the investigation into O'Keefe's death and was fired after revelations of misconduct emerged in the first trial. Another notable change was the role of Read, who has maintained her innocence, herself. In addition to her remarks to reporters outside the courtroom, her words have been a regular presence in Brennan's presentation, which has featured a series of interview clips that show what Brennan has described as Read's 'campaign' of public statements. Read's lawyers are expected to begin making their case Friday. The prosecution's final witness was one of its most important. No cameras captured the events that led to O'Keefe's death, nor have any witnesses claimed to have seen what happened at 34 Fairview Road — the home in Canton, just south of Boston, where O'Keefe, 46, was found unresponsive in the front yard shortly after 6 a.m. on Jan. 29. But Judson Welcher, a biomechanical engineer and accident reconstruction expert, testified that data from Read's 2021 Lexus showed that at 12:32 a.m., outside 34 Fairview, the vehicle drove forward 34 feet, then reversed 53 feet. The SUV was traveling at nearly 24 mph, he said, with a throttle of 74%. While there was no vehicle data to support Brennan's allegation of a collision, Welcher testified that lacerations on O'Keefe's right arm were 'consistent' with injuries caused by a broken rear right taillight on the SUV. Welcher testified that his height and weight approximated O'Keefe's — around 6 feet tall and 220 pounds — and that he conducted re-enactments showing what such a collision might look like. In one video, Welcher wore clothes similar to O'Keefe's from Jan. 29 — jeans, a T-shirt, a baseball cap — while a Lexus that was the same model and year as Read's backed into him at 2 mph. Welcher also knocked down the defense's claim that the taillight was broken in a different collision on Jan. 29. As Read left her home around 5 a.m. to look for O'Keefe, she was in a panic, she has said, and she backed her Lexus into his Chevrolet Traverse. Ring camera video played in court captured the incident. But Welcher testified that an analysis of the video showed Read was driving less than 1 mph at the time and that there was no evidence of any damage to either vehicle. 'That impact did not break or crack that taillight," Welcher said. Michael Proctor, the ex-trooper and case agent who managed the investigation into O'Keefe's death, was included on the prosecution's list of possible witnesses. In the first trial, Proctor spent hours on the stand and acknowledged that comments he made to friends, family and supervisors about Read were unprofessional and that they 'dehumanized' her. But prosecutors did not call him to testify in the retrial. Massachusetts State Police dishonorably discharged Proctor in March after an internal investigation found that he violated agency rules by sending derogatory messages and sharing confidential investigative details with non-law enforcement personnel. Proctor testified that his conduct did not harm the investigation. He has not publicly commented on his termination, but his family has criticized his former employer, saying he was unfairly scapegoated. His former supervisor testified this month that Proctor had acted with 'honor and integrity.' 'I believe human beings all have biases,' Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik told the jury. 'Especially in this case, they did not affect the outcome of the investigation.' Bukhenik acknowledged that he was disciplined in part for failing to adequately supervise Proctor and lost five vacation days. Proctor is listed as a possible witness for the defense, which has accused him of bias and manipulating evidence. Two other figures who played an outsized role in the first trial — Brian Albert and Brian Higgins — were also on the prosecution's witness list but were not called to testify. Albert, a retired Boston police sergeant, lived with his family at 34 Fairview at the time of O'Keefe's death and had a gathering at his home on Jan. 29 that O'Keefe planned to attend. Prosecutors — and Albert — have said that O'Keefe never made it to the party and that no one who was there that morning saw him inside. But the defense has alleged that O'Keefe entered Albert's home and was beaten, bitten by the family's German shepherd and dragged outside, where he died. They have pointed to Higgins, an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who was at the gathering, as a possible conspirator in this alternative theory of the case. In the weeks before O'Keefe's death, a series of text messages introduced as evidence showed Higgins flirting with Read and appearing frustrated when she did not speak more candidly about what she wanted from him. The tension most likely prompted the fight that led to O'Keefe's death, the lawyers have said. (Through their attorneys, both men have denied involvement.) Albert and Higgins are both on the defense's list of possible witnesses. Read has been unusually candid with journalists, and Brennan has shown a series of clips from interviews she has given to reinforce the prosecution's theory of O'Keefe's death. In one clip, shown during opening statements on April 22, Read was captured telling 'Dateline' that she could have 'tagged' O'Keefe in the knee 'and incapacitated him. He didn't look mortally wounded as far as I could see. But could I have done something that knocked him out?' In another clip, shown this month, she was captured telling 'Investigation Discovery' about the moment she found O'Keefe in the yard of 34 Fairview. She wondered out loud whether she could have run over his foot as she began driving from Albert's home. 'He's roughly where I left him, so yeah, when I found him I was thinking, did I, like, clip him somehow?' she said. In another series of clips introduced as evidence last month, Read was shown talking openly about her drinking. She and O'Keefe had been at two bars before they drove to Albert's house, and in an interview with "20/20," she was asked whether she felt fine to drive after four drinks. 'Yup,' she responded. In a separate clip, she told a Boston Magazine reporter that she drank a 'normal amount' — a vodka tonic every 40 minutes. Outside court last week, Read was asked whether she had any reaction to the videos. 'No,' she said. This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
Karen Read murder trial: Three things to know now that the prosecution has rested
After six weeks and dozens of witnesses, Massachusetts prosecutors retrying Karen Read on a murder charge in the widely publicized death of her boyfriend three years ago rested their case Thursday. While the theory put forward by special prosecutor Hank Brennan was the same as that offered by the assistant district attorney who previously tried the case — Read, drunk and angry, struck John O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV and left him for dead on Jan. 29, 2022 — there were some notable changes from Read's first trial, which ended with a hung jury last summer. Absent were two high-profile witnesses who were key to the defense's claims that Read was framed. Also missing was the former Massachusetts state trooper who led the investigation into O'Keefe's death and was fired after revelations of misconduct emerged in the first trial. Another notable change was the role of Read, who has maintained her innocence, herself. In addition to speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, her words have been a regular presence in Brennan's presentation, which has featured a series of interview clips that show what Brennan has described as Read's 'campaign' of public statements. Read's lawyers are expected to begin making their case Friday. A key witness tries to re-create the scene The prosecution's final witness was one of its most important. No cameras captured the events that led to O'Keefe's death, nor have any witnesses claimed to have seen what happened at 34 Fairview Road — the home in Canton, just south of Boston, where O'Keefe, 46, was found unresponsive in the front yard shortly after 6 a.m. on Jan. 29. But Judson Welcher, a biomechanical engineer and accident reconstruction expert, testified that data from Read's 2021 Lexus showed that at 12:32 a.m., outside 34 Fairview, the vehicle drove forward 34 feet, then reversed 53 feet. The SUV was traveling at nearly 24 mph, he said, with a throttle of 74 percent. While there was no vehicle data to support Brennan's allegation of a collision, Welcher testified that lacerations on O'Keefe's right arm were 'consistent' with injuries caused by a broken rear right tail light on the SUV. Welcher testified that his height and weight approximated O'Keefe's — around 6 feet tall and 220 pounds — and he conducted re-enactments showing what such a collision might look like. In one video, Welcher wore similar clothes as O'Keefe from Jan. 29 — jeans, t-shirt, baseball cap — while a Lexus that was the same model and year as Read's backed into him at 2 mph. Welcher also knocked down the defense's claim that the broken tail light came from a different collision on Jan. 29. As Read left her home around 5 a.m. to look for O'Keefe, she was in a panic, she has said, and she backed her Lexus into his Chevrolet Traverse. Ring camera video played in court captured the incident. But Welcher testified that an analysis of the video showed Read was driving less than 1 mph at the time and there was no evidence of any damage to either vehicle. 'That impact did not break or crack that tail light," Welcher said. Who didn't they call to testify? Michael Proctor, the ex-trooper and case agent who managed the investigation into O'Keefe's death, was included on the prosecution's list of possible witnesses. In the first trial, Proctor spent hours on the stand and acknowledged that comments he made to friends, family and supervisors about Read were unprofessional and 'dehumanized' her. But, prosecutors did not call him to testify in the retrial. The Massachusetts State Police dishonorably discharged Proctor in March after an internal investigation found that he violated agency rules by sending derogatory messages and sharing confidential investigative details with non-law enforcement personnel. Proctor testified that his conduct did not harm the investigation. He has not publicly commented on his termination, but his family has criticized his former employer, saying he was unfairly scapegoated. His former supervisor testified this month that Proctor had acted with 'honor and integrity.' 'I believe human beings all have biases,' Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik told the jury. 'Especially in this case, they did not affect the outcome of the investigation.' Bukhenik acknowledged that he was disciplined in part for failing to adequately supervise Proctor and lost five vacation days. Proctor is listed as a possible witness for the defense, which has accused him of bias and manipulating evidence. Two other figures who played an outsized role in the first trial — Brian Albert and Brian Higgins — were also included on the prosecution's witness list but were not called to testify. Albert, a retired Boston police sergeant, lived with his family at 34 Fairview at the time of O'Keefe's death and had a gathering at his home on Jan. 29 that O'Keefe planned on attending. Prosecutors — and Albert — have said that O'Keefe never made it to the party and no one who was there that morning saw him inside. But the defense has alleged that O'Keefe entered Albert's home, and was beaten, bitten by the family's German Shepherd and dragged outside, where he died. They've pointed to Higgins, an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who was at the gathering, as a possible conspirator in this alternative theory of the case. In the weeks before O'Keefe's death, a series of text messages introduced as evidence showed Higgins flirting with Read and appearing frustrated when she does not speak more candidly about what she wants from him. This tension likely prompted the fight that led to O'Keefe's death, the lawyers have said. (Through their attorneys, both men have denied involvement.) Albert and Higgins are both included on the defense's list of possible witnesses. What does Karen Read say? Read has been unusually candid with journalists, and Brennan has shown a series of clips from interviews she has given to reinforce the prosecution's theory of O'Keefe's death. In one clip, shown during opening statements on April 22, Read was captured telling 'Dateline' that she could have 'tagged' O'Keefe in the knee 'and incapacitated him. He didn't look mortally wounded as far as I could see. But could I have done something that knocked him out?' In another clip, shown earlier this month, she was captured telling 'Investigation Discovery' about the moment she found O'Keefe in the yard of 34 Fairview. She wondered out loud if she could have run over his foot as she began driving from Albert's home. 'He's roughly where I left him, so yeah when I found him I was thinking, did I like clip him somehow?' she said. In another series of clips introduced as evidence last month, Read was shown talking openly about her drinking. She and O'Keefe had been at two bars before they drove to Albert's house, and in an interview with "20/20," she was asked if she felt fine to drive after four drinks. 'Yup,' she responded. In a separate clip, she told a Boston Magazine reporter that she drank a 'normal amount' — a vodka tonic every 40 minutes. 'No,' she said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Creston Police: Drunk woman drives from Sioux City with three kids in car
May 28—Lela A. Churchwell, 46, of Creston, was taken into custody 3:56 p.m. May 23, in the 200 block of North Division Street on the charges of OWI, first offense and interference with official acts. According to a Creston Police report, a 2002 Saturn SL1 Churchwell was observed to be driving was stopped because Churchwell does not have a valid driver's license. After being stopped, Churchwell exited the car and attempted to go into her residence. Officers stopped her at which time she attempted to push past them before she was eventually escorted to the ground and placed in handcuffs. Churchwell was observed to have bloodshot, watery eyes, impaired balance and the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. She also made statements about consuming alcohol earlier in the day. Churchwell was transported the Union County Law Enforcement Center where she consented to field sobriety testing and showed validated clues of impairment. She refused a PBT and to provide a breath specimen for chemical testing. Churchwell was transported to the Union County Jail where she was released from after posting $1,300 cash or surety bond. — — — — — Rikki L. Klos, 36, of Afton, was taken into custody 5:48 p.m. May 24, at Elm and Mills streets on the charges of possession of a controlled substance — marijuana, first offense and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, first offense. According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 5:31 p.m. a 2000 Dodge Ram was stopped for not having a front license plate. Klos, an occupant of the truck, admitted to having marijuana in her purse. Officers searched her purse and located a grinder containing marijuana, one alprazolam pill and one diazepam pill. Both pills are Schedule 4 controlled substances. Klos admitted to not having a prescription for either medication. Klos was transported to the Union County Jail where she was released from after posting $3,000 cash or surety bond. — — — — — Samantha J. Little, 30, of Moville, was taken into custody 11:31 p.m. May 24, in the 800 block of Laurel Street on the charges of public intoxication, OWI, second offense and three counts of child endangerment — substantial risk. According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 11:13 p.m. a Walmart employee reported a female operating a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, who appeared intoxicated and had three children with her in the parking lot. The employee stated they witnessed a bottle of alcohol fall out of the female's pocket and smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person. Officers made contact with the female, identified as Little, and immediately detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person. Little consented to a PBT which indicated her BrAC to be above .08%. Three children, two of which were Little's and one of which was a friend's child, were in the backseat of the Traverse. Little admitted to driving intoxicated from Sioux City. Open Fireball shooters were found in the driver's door of the Traverse. Little was transported to the Union County Law Enforcement Center where she consented to field sobriety testing. During the tests, Little showed validated clues of impairment. Little consented to provide a breath specimen for chemical testing, the result of which showed her BAC to be .181%. Little has a prior OWI conviction in October of 2020 from Plymouth County. Little was transported to the Union County Jail where she was released from after posting $8,300 cash or surety bond. — — — — — Howard J. Davis IV, 33, of Creston, was taken into custody 4:34 p.m. May 26, at his residence on a Union County warrant for the charge of violation of parole. According to an Iowa Department of Correctional Services report, during a May 19 parole appointment, a parole agent reviewed Davis' phone. After the phone was reviewed, Davis admitted to multiple violations of his parole terms. Violations included an unreported relationship with a sex offender parolee, who he allowed to spend the night at his residence without permission and who was not registered as a visitor with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. Davis had unapproved and unregistered social media accounts. He admitted to having unapproved contact with several minors and to spending the night at an unregistered address where minors were present without permission. Davis admitted to using marijuana multiple times each month. He also admitted to sending and receiving inappropriate sexual photos and videos and to viewing pornography on his phone which he deleted after viewing. Davis was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond. — — — — — Nathan L. Novotny, 20, of Creston, was taken into custody 8:03 p.m. May 26, in the 900 block of North Sumner Avenue on the charges of interference with official acts and driving while suspended. According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 8:58 p.m. Novotny was observed driving a Dodge Charger at Prairie Street and Highway 25. Novotny has a suspended license. While at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, Novotny made comments about fleeing and did not sit down after being told to. He actively resisted officers and had to be assisted into handcuffs and then resisted while being escorted to the jail. Novotny was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $1,300 cash or surety bond.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas man pleads guilty in wrong-way crash that killed Prairieville woman
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Texas man pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and third-offense DWI after a fatal wrong-way crash killed a 23-year-old woman from 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office said Joshua Cannon, 36, entered the plea last week. On Oct. 24, 2023, Louisiana State Police responded to reports of a head-on collision on I-10 Eastbound near mile marker 186 in Ascension determined that Cannon, driving a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, was traveling west in the eastbound lanes when he collided head-on with a 2008 Honda Accord driven by Jaranisha Carter, 23, of Prairieville. Carter was taken to the hospital but later died from her injuries. Cannon had moderate injuries and was also noted that Cannon showed signs of impairment. He also refused to cooperate during the investigation. Authorities got a search warrant for a blood sample. The attorney's office said the test showed Cannon's blood alcohol concentration was 0.18 g%, more than the legal being released from the hospital, Cannon was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish sentencing was delayed, according to the attorney's office. A pre-sentence investigation will take place first. It is tentatively set for Aug. 18. Baton Rouge chef to compete in seafood cook-off for state title this summer A new COVID variant may be driving up cases in some parts of the world, WHO says Suspect arrested, woman in coma after break-in at Beanie Babies tycoon's California mansion Ascension Parish man pleads guilty to store, restaurant armed robberies Rain, clouds may make Manhattanhenge unviewable in NYC Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
