NTSB: Impaired truck driver likely cause of GOP train crash
CROZET, Va. (AP) – Federal investigators say a trash truck driver was likely under the influence of marijuana and anti-seizure medication when his vehicle was struck by an Amtrak train carrying Republican lawmakers in Virginia last year.The National Transportation Safety Board issued its final report on the accident Thursday. The crash killed a passenger in the truck and injured a congressman and others on the train.The NTSB said the probable cause was the truck driver’s decision to enter a railroad crossing with the gates down and his inaction after encountering obstacles on the tracks.The NTSB said his decisions were “most likely due to his impairment.”The driver was charged locally on involuntary manslaughter and DUI.A judge threw out blood evidence. A jury acquitted the driver of manslaughter last month.
Report: Virginia pension fund in trouble if market meltdown hits
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A recent state report has found that Virginia’s pension fund is in a worse position to handle a market meltdown than it was before the Great Recession. That’s despite a 10-year bull market and pension reform efforts by lawmakers to make the fund more resilient. The Virginia Retirement System’s recent “stress test” predicts that a market crash or several years of lower-than-expected returns would add billions to the plan’s current unfunded liabilities. The impact of such hits would leave lawmakers with limited and painful options, like slashing services or raising taxes to meet required contribution levels or underfunding the pension plan and leaving higher costs for future generations to pay off.
Heading north? Snow, fog today in Wintergreen/Afton area
If you are heading north this afternoon from Roanoke or Lynchburg toward Charlottesville, be advised it has been snowing in some higher elevations, including those around Wintergreen Resort and Afton Mountain. There is accumulating snow in places, and visibility is quite limited as well. Here is a Thursday afternoon screenshot from Wintergreen Resort:
VDOT traffic cameras also show considerable fog atop Afton Mountain.
Impaired truck driver likely cause of GOP Crozet train crash
CROZET, Va. (AP) – Federal investigators say a trash truck driver was likely under the influence of marijuana and anti-seizure medication when his vehicle was struck by an Amtrak train carrying Republican lawmakers in Virginia last year. The National Transportation Safety Board issued its final report on the accident Thursday. The crash killed a passenger in the truck and injured a congressman and others on the train. The NTSB said the probable cause was the truck driver’s decision to enter a railroad crossing with the gates down and his inaction after encountering obstacles on the tracks. The NTSB said his decisions were “most likely due to his impairment.” The driver was charged locally on involuntary manslaughter and DUI. A judge threw out blood evidence. A jury acquitted the driver of manslaughter last month.
Math prof looks at 12 seed Liberty University’s chances
We already took a look at trying to make a perfect bracket but what does Liberty Mathematics Professor Tim Van Voohris think of his own school’s chances in the big dance? WLNI’s Ian Price has more:
He battled ISIS but can’t return to the U.S.
Michael Enright shares his story on The Morning Line.
