Seaman hit by ship 'tugger' sues two captains and a company

Claiming the "tugger" winch he was operating broke free from the vessel's deck and struck him, seaman Jesse Turner filed a Jones Act suit against the ship's owner and two captains.

Turner, along with his wife Sonja, filed their suit against Cal Dive International and Captains Allen Brough and Glen Delahoussey on Aug. 16 in Jefferson County District Court.

Court papers show Turner was a tension machine operator working aboard the vessel Rider owned by Cal Dive and captained by Brough and Delahoussey.

On Aug. 20, 2008, Turner operated the ship's "tugger" winch laying pipeline between Alabama and Mississippi when it "broke free from the deck and slammed into him, causing in injuries," court papers say.

"Unbeknownst to plaintiff, the tugger winch used to lay pipeline was improperly fixed to the deck," the suit states. "Cal Dive transported plaintiff ... past several facilities in order to take him to what they termed 'our hospital' in New Orleans."

Turner claims the defendants negligently installed the winch and that the vessel was unseaworthy.

He claims that two years after the incident he is still unable to return to work and is suing for past and future lost earnings and medical expenses.

Huntsville attorney Hans Barcus of the Cantrell, Ray & Barcus law firm is representing him.

Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, has been assigned to the case.

2 Killed in Putnam County SUV Crash

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — Two young people are dead after a sport utility vehicle crash in Florahome on Saturday night. Most of the victims were teenagers.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 16-year-old Kurtrina January, of Jacksonville; and 20-year-old Marvin Williams, of Florahome; died in the wreck. Neither was wearing a seat belt.

Injured in the crash were Alexander Evans, 17; Joniaya Berry, 16; Edward Wright, 15; Larve Striglers, 16; and Gregoryle Lindsey, 17. They were all taken to Putnam Community Hospital and Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

1 Killed, 1 Injured In Downtown Jacksonville Wreck

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A crash of a car and a truck at a downtown intersection Tuesday morning killed an elderly driver and sent his passenger to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Traffic homicide detectives a Cadillac going north on Pearl Street went through a red light and struck the box truck headed east on Union about 9:30 a.m. The force of the impact sent both vehicles through the fence of St. Philips Episcopal Church, in the northeast corner of the intersection.

20-year-old Jacksonville woman dies in morning wreck

Jacksonville police said a 20-year-old woman died and two other people were seriously injured when they were ejected from their vehicle this morning. None were wearing seat belts, police said.
Malanicia A. Bookman, of the 3600 block of Moncrief Road West, died in the 6 a.m. accident in the 700 block of Edgewood Avenue North. The identities of the other victims has not been released.

Man guilty of lesser charge in crash that killed 3 teens

Stephen Davis played a role in the April 2008 car wreck that killed three teenagers, but apparently a Macomb County jury decided Friday that it was not a big enough one to send him to prison for 15 years.

Jacksonville man injured when thrown from rolling vehicle

The driver of a Ford minivan apparently lost control of the vehicle he was driving, causing an accident in which he was injured last night, Jacksonville police said.The 24-year-old Jacksonville man, who has not yet been indentified, was driving along Hyde Grove Avenue, just west of Lane Avenue South, when the vehicle lost control, police said. The man was thrown from the minivan, which rolled multiple times. Speed was likely an issue, police said.

Community says Goodbye to Arlington Preacher Killled in Car Accident

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The unique life of neighborhood icon Sarah Jarvis was remembered today at a service at her church celebrating her life.
Jarvis, known for walking with her Bible in her East Arlington neighborhood to bless and preach to the people she met, was hit by a car and killed there early Monday while crossing the street.