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Third Worker Dies after Oil Rig Explosion in Burleson County, TX

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accident-action-adult-280076-300x157Authorities in Texas announced a third worker has died from injuries caused by an explosion at a Chesapeake Energy Corporation oil well site last Wednesday.

According to a preliminary report from the Railroad Commission of Texas, the explosion occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on January 29 at a pair of oil wells off County Road 127 near Deanville in Burleson County. Workers were upgrading a wellhead when an unexpected amount of natural gas entered the 8,500-foot-deep well and ignited.

11 workers form Chesapeake, Eagle Pressure Control, and C.C. Forbes were working on the well at the time of the explosion. One worker was pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were airlifted to hospitals in Houston and Austin.

The worker killed in the explosion was identified as 38-year-old Windell Beddingfield of Tyler in a court filing. Beddingfield was an employee of Eagle Pressure Control. His mother, Linda Milanovich, filed a request for an injunction before a state district court in Caldwell last week to preserve evidence in advance of a potential lawsuit.

One of the three workers died Thursday evening, reports indicate. Chesapeake announced the third death on Monday morning. Local media has identified the deceased worker as 25-year-old Brian Maldonado of San Diego. He reportedly suffered third-degree burns to more than 90 percent of his body, and had to undergo surgery at Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin last week.

Chesapeake Energy assumed ownership of the oil wells in a $4 billion deal last year. The company hired workers from Eagle Pressure Control and C.C. Forbes to perform maintenance and other improvements to the wells when the blowout occured. None of Chesapeake’s employees were injured in the accident.

Maldonado’s death makes this is the deadliest oil field accident since January 2018, when an explosion at an oil rig outside Quinton, Oklahoma killed five workers. It is still unclear what caused Chesapeake’s well to ignite. State and local authorities are still investigating the incident.

Companies or businesses involved in these types of accidents are legally required to pay their injured employees compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. Business owners and operators must keep up with their state’s workers’ compensation laws and provide compensation insurance to all their employees.

Employers who misclassify employees in order to pay lower workers’ compensation premiums or deduct workers’ compensation premiums from employee wages may be charged with workers’ compensation fraud. The penalties for a workers’ compensation fraud conviction can be severe and often include, fines, community service, jail time, and more. The amount of fines a business will have to pay will depend upon the value of how much was defrauded in a specific case.

South Florida Workers’ Compensation Fraud Attorney

If you’re accused of workers’ compensation fraud, then you should hire an attorney. Contact Brian Silber, P.A. for a free initial consultation with one of South Florida’s most experienced workers’ compensation fraud defense attorneys.

Source: 1.31.20 ignition of natural gas blamed in fatal oil well accident.pdf

 

Ex-Pro Wrestler Mark ‘Van Hammer’ Hildreth Charged with DUI after Striking 5-Year-Old on Bike

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automobile-automotive-car-1073031-300x178Police in Boynton Beach announced the arrest of retired pro-wrestler Mark ‘Van Hammer’ Hildreth for allegedly speeding while intoxicated and injuring a five-year-old boy.

Hildreth, 60, was charged with DUI with injuries and leaving the scene of an injury. He is being held in Palm Beach County Jail on $125,000 bond. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

According to Boynton Beach police, the alleged incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. on January 26 on the 3400 block of South Seacrest Boulevard in Boynton Beach’s south end. A man was reportedly driving a black Mercedes-Benz S-550 at 58 mph in a 35-mph zone when he struck a five-year-old boy on a bicycle.

The boy was riding with his father on Seacrest when the accident happened. He veered in front of the Mercedes-Benz and was thrown atop the vehicle’s hood, police said. He was taken to Delray Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries and is reportedly in stable condition.

Witnesses told police that the driver pulled off the road, jumped out of the vehicle, and said, “He jumped in front of me.” He then leaped back into his car and then drove off south, even as bystanders yelled for him to stop.

One of the witnesses followed the driver to his home and took pictures of his license plate and of him inside the vehicle. Moments later, police arrived at the address and found the man, who was identified as Hildreth, sitting outside. His home was reportedly near the crash site.

Police said Hildreth “made statements about being involved in the crash,” according to the arrest report. The officers noted that he slurred his words, had the smell of alcohol on his breath, and staggered when he stood up. He purportedly denied drinking but later said he had some drinks the previous night. He refused to perform field sobriety exercises or provide a breath sample, police said.

Hildreth was a professional wrestler under the name ‘Van Hammer’ for 12 years before retiring in 2002. He moved to Boynton Beach in 2013, sources indicate. Records show this isn’t his first run-in with the law on DUI charges. He was reportedly arrested for a DUI in 2004 in Georgia.

Florida has some of the most stringent DUI laws in the U.S. The state requires local law enforcement agencies and the Florida Highway Patrol to use a zero tolerance standard when enforcing these laws.

Police use checkpoints, breathalyzers, roadside tests, and video evidence to enforce DUI laws. As a result, a high number of people are arrested on DUI charges every year. In 2015, almost 47,000 people were arrested in Florida for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

South Florida DUI Attorney

Have you been arrested for a DUI? Contact Brian Silber, P.A. to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 1.28.20 Boynton man, ex-pro wrestler, charged with DUI, striking 5-year-old on bike.pdf

Alexander Jacobson Charged with DUI Manslaughter in Wrong-Way Crash at Tampa International Airport

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alcohol-automotive-beer-288476-300x225Tampa police confirmed that a man was arrested for his alleged involvement in a wrong-way crash outside Tampa International Airport that killed two people early Sunday morning.

Alexander Bradford Jacobson, 30, faces charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter. He was ordered held on $150,000 bond during his first court appearance on Monday. It is unclear if he has acquired an attorney.

According to Tampa police, the crash occurred at approximately 3 a.m. January 26 on the George J. Bean Parkway, which is for northbound traffic going to Tampa International Airport. Jacobson was reportedly driving a Jeep in the wrong way when he crashed head-on into a Ford sedan. Both the driver and a passenger in the Ford died in the crash. Their names have not been released.

Jacobson sustained minor injuries. A witness told police that Jacobson exited his vehicle moments after the crash. He allegedly smelled like alcohol and marijuana, and had a “lethargic” and “sleepy” appearance with bloodshot, watery eyes, according to the arrest report. He was purportedly wearing a purple paper wristband and Gasparilla beads.

When questioned by police, Jacobson allegedly admitted he had drank two beers about four hours earlier at a bar in Ybor City, the report states. He was unable to successfully perform field sobriety exercises and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Jacobson was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he consented to giving blood. He was taken to Hillsborough County Jail four and a half hours later. He agreed to perform a breath test, which showed his blood alcohol level was .081 and .083. The legal limit for driving in Florida is .08.

Jacobson was working as a rideshare driver at the time of the crash, but police didn’t specify for which company.

Records show Jacobson was previously arrested in 2012 in Minnesota for driving under influence, leaving the scene of a crash, and driving with an expired registration. He was convicted on a careless driving charge and the other charges were dropped.

DUI manslaughter is one of the most seriously prosecuted cases in a courthouse. Depending on the circumstances, DUI manslaughter may be prosecuted as a first degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, or as a second degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison per victim.

DUI manslaughter is usually treated as a second degree felony by default. However, if evidence proves the defendant was aware or should have been aware that an accident occurred, but failed to render aid and provide his information, prosecutors may file it as a first degree felony.

Given that a charge will always include at least one grieving and angry family, it is important for a person charged with DUI manslaughter to hire an experienced defense attorney who can mount an aggressive defense in a tasteful manner without creating additional blow back or liability for the defendant.

South Florida DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for DUI manslaughter, then you should hire an attorney. Contact Brian Silber, P.A. to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 1.27.20 victims in wrong way crash at Tampa airport were in rideshare car.pdf

Alexander Jacobson Charged with DUI Manslaughter in Wrong-Way Crash at Tampa International Airport

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alcohol-automotive-beer-288476-300x225Tampa police confirmed that a man was arrested for his alleged involvement in a wrong-way crash outside Tampa International Airport that killed two people early Sunday morning.

Alexander Bradford Jacobson, 30, faces charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter. He was ordered held on $150,000 bond during his first court appearance on Monday. It is unclear if he has acquired an attorney.

According to Tampa police, the crash occurred at approximately 3 a.m. January 26 on the George J. Bean Parkway, which is for northbound traffic going to Tampa International Airport. Jacobson was reportedly driving a Jeep in the wrong way when he crashed head-on into a Ford sedan. Both the driver and a passenger in the Ford died in the crash. Their names have not been released.

Jacobson sustained minor injuries. A witness told police that Jacobson exited his vehicle moments after the crash. He allegedly smelled like alcohol and marijuana, and had a “lethargic” and “sleepy” appearance with bloodshot, watery eyes, according to the arrest report. He was purportedly wearing a purple paper wristband and Gasparilla beads.

When questioned by police, Jacobson allegedly admitted he had drank two beers about four hours earlier at a bar in Ybor City, the report states. He was unable to successfully perform field sobriety exercises and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Jacobson was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he consented to giving blood. He was taken to Hillsborough County Jail four and a half hours later. He agreed to perform a breath test, which showed his blood alcohol level was .081 and .083. The legal limit for driving in Florida is .08.

Jacobson was working as a rideshare driver at the time of the crash, but police didn’t specify for which company.

Records show Jacobson was previously arrested in 2012 in Minnesota for driving under influence, leaving the scene of a crash, and driving with an expired registration. He was convicted on a careless driving charge and the other charges were dropped.

DUI manslaughter is one of the most seriously prosecuted cases in a courthouse. Depending on the circumstances, DUI manslaughter may be prosecuted as a first degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, or as a second degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison per victim.

DUI manslaughter is usually treated as a second degree felony by default. However, if evidence proves the defendant was aware or should have been aware that an accident occurred, but failed to render aid and provide his information, prosecutors may file it as a first degree felony.

Given that a charge will always include at least one grieving and angry family, it is important for a person charged with DUI manslaughter to hire an experienced defense attorney who can mount an aggressive defense in a tasteful manner without creating additional blow back or liability for the defendant.

South Florida DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for DUI manslaughter, then you should hire an attorney. Contact Brian Silber, P.A. to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 1.27.20 victims in wrong way crash at Tampa airport were in rideshare car.pdf

Nine Teens, One Adult Arrested after Fight at Palm Bay Magnet High School in Melbourne

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auditorium-benches-chairs-class-207691-300x214An officer was assaulted and nine students arrested after a fight at a high school in Melbourne, Florida on December 10. The report indicates that one adult was also arrested. It is unclear if any of the involved parties acquired the services of an attorney.

The events took place at Palm Bay Magnet High School on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 10. Officers from the Melbourne Police Department were dispatched after two students were involved in the start of the fight during school hours, sources say. 

When a school resource officer tried to break up the fight, one of the students “physically assaulted” him, then other students got involved, according to the press. This caused officers from the Palm Bay Police Department, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Melbourne Police Department to be dispatched to the scene.

The police report indicates that an adult woman refused to leave school property when directed to do so by an officer, while at the same time “causing a significant verbal disturbance with the students.” According to the report, the woman is a relative of one of the students involved, although the initial cause of the dispute has not been publicly disclosed.

The ten students arrested and charged face charges such as disrupting a school function, assaulting a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Because of their ages, their names have not been disclosed. This took place only two weeks before Brevard Public Schools begin the winter break. 

Sergeant Martin Miller of the Melbourne Police Department said the incident “was mayhem” and added that an investigation is underway into what happened and how it got to this. Nicki Hensley, a spokesperson for Brevard Public Schools, said, “There was a disturbance on campus,” but “It’s been contained.”

It is not clear what caused the fight. However, Melbourne police commented that no weapons were involved and no students or officers were injured. They refused to make further comments indicating that it was an “ongoing investigation.” According to the school district, the situation was quickly contained and there was no need for a lockdown. Like the police, the district refused to provide details about what occurred. 

The incident is also being reviewed by Brevard Public School District officials. At the time, it was not known if the students would be released into custody of their parents or turned over to authorities. The names of the officer and the arrested adult have likewise not been released. It is not clear whether the students who were involved in the altercation will be facing expulsion, suspension, or other disciplinary action. 

Likewise, officials did not disclose whether the fight resulted in any injuries on the part of the students, the arrested adult, or the officer. If anyone was injured in the brawl, they may be eligible to collect injury compensation depending on the nature of their injury and how it occurred. 

Florida Injury Attorney

If you are involved in a case of inappropriate conduct, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us today to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced attorneys.

 

Sources: 12.27.19 School Fight