Dog survives 110-mile ride on pickup's engine
SAN CLEMENTE (AP) — A dog has survived a 110-mile ride on the hot engine of a pickup truck during a Southern California heat wave.
The driver of a Chevrolet Silverado felt the pickup move slightly after he stopped in San Clemente on Monday. He had just driven from Chino to Orange and Camp Pendleton.
Jaime Magaña, 52, noticed fur above the left front tire and he opened the hood to find a 25-pound dog atop the engine.
Temperatures outside were nudging 100 degrees.
Magaña called for help and an animal control officer put the dog, nicknamed Chevy, into her air conditioned truck.
It perked right up.
Magaña says he's seen the dog in his Chino neighborhood.
The hunt is on for the dog's owner.
AMTRAK: CROSSING GATE DOWN IN TRAIN CRASH : HANFORD (AP) — The crossing gate was down, lights were flashing and bells were ringing when a big rig crashed into a passing Amtrak passenger train on Monday afternoon, an Amtrak official said.
Investigators probing the cause of the crash south of the farming community of Hanford plan to look at the condition of the big rig's driver — identified Tuesday as Macario Medina, 32, of McFarland — and of the truck.
Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said 39 people were injured in the crash.
Authorities have described the injuries as mostly bumps and bruises although Graham said at least one person suffered a broken leg.
Investigators will first try to determine Medina's state and then look at the vehicle, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Jerry Pierce. Medina went through the warning arms and hit the train before his truck overturned, according to the CHP.
MOM ARRESTED AFTER BABY FOUND IN HOT CAR: LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California mother is in jail after her crying baby was rescued from a parked car as temperatures soared into the 100s.
The woman had rolled up the windows and left the air conditioner running on her blue Nissan while she went into a North Hollywood supermarket on Monday.
A passer-by had noticed the crying girl inside the hot car in the Ralph's parking lot and notified Los Angeles police.
A police lieutenant says the air conditioner wasn't cooling the car's interior and the temperature outside was 104 degrees.
The woman, whose name hasn't been released, was arrested and booked for investigation of felony child endangerment. Bail is set at $100,000.
LA COUNTY CONFIRMS SECOND WEST NILE VIRUS DEATH: LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County health officials say they've confirmed a second death caused by West Nile virus here this year.
Health chief Dr. Jonathan Fielding said in a release Tuesday that both fatalities occurred in elderly adults from southeastern LA County.
West Nile is passed through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds.
Fielding urges residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites by getting rid of stagnant water that may have gathered around their homes in flowerpots or birdbaths, where the insects can breed.
To date this year, county health officials say 54 people have been infected with the illness, which is typically mild and has symptoms including fever, headache, nausea and skin rash.
113 POUNDS OF COCAINE FOUND IN PROPANE TANK : SAN DIEGO (AP) — Border Patrol agents in San Diego County have arrested a driver after finding 113 pounds of cocaine hidden inside a propane tank strapped to his truck.
Authorities say the truck was stopped and searched Saturday morning as it headed into the U.S. from Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
The driver, a 39-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested.
HAZMAT SQUAD CALLED TO PET-FILLED HOME: SANTA ANA (AP) — A hazardous materials squad has been called to a filthy, urine-soaked, feces-strewn Southern California home to remove 15 cats, a dog and a parrot.
Santa Ana police were called to the home Tuesday because of the stench as temperatures soared during a lingering heat wave.
Capt. Anthony Bertagna says 10 people live in the home — two adults and eight children ranging from 2 to 17 years old.
The animals were isolated in one room of the home.
