Number of teens killed in car crashes drops dramatically

An Erie Insurance analysis of teen driving data finds the number of teens killed in car crashes has dropped dramatically over the past several years. Erie reviewed data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on the number of teens who died in crashes when a teen was driving. The data showed that 4,216 teens died in such crashes in 2007 compared with 2,142 who died in 2013, the most recent year for which data is available. The total number of fatalities includes both teen drivers and passengers.

Despite the drop, driving remains a dangerous activity for teens, with the teen driving death rate 15 percent higher than adults, Erie said in a company press release. Accidents remain the leading cause of death among teens.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concludes that graduated driver licensing laws, which phase in driving privileges over time as teens gain more experience, is one reason for the improved safety record, and that stronger GDL laws would lead to even more improvements.

NTSB investigating single-engine plane crash in Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash of a single-engine Cessna 150J aircraft Sunday in Topping, Va.

The aircraft impacted grass terrain southeast of Hummel Field Airport, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot was fatally injured and the sole passenger onboard the airplane received serious injuries.

The aircraft (tail number N50824) was built in 1968 and registered to Stephen Myers of Christiansburg, Va., according to Federal Aviation Administration records.

NTSB begins investigation into Gulf of Mexico helicopter crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash of a Bell 206 helicopter 90 miles south of Houma, La.

The helicopter (tail number N207MY) “crashed in the water while on approach to an oil rig platform. The two persons on board were fatally injured,” according to preliminary data released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Bell 206-L4 was manufactured in 2000 and registered to Coy Leasing LLC of Broussard, La., according to FAA records.

U.S. Coast Guard personnel based in New Orleans received a report of a downed helicopter on Wednesday at 2:40 p.m. Crewmembers on the rig deployed a life raft and reported the aircraft sank below the water.

A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, a HC-130 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Mobile, Ala., and a 87-foot patrol boat from Grand Isle was dispatched to the area to search for survivors.

Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 crashes at San Francisco airport

At 2:36 p.m. EDT Saturday, Asiana Airlines Flight 214, a Boeing 777 arriving from Seoul, South Korea, crashed while landing on runway 28L at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in California. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the accident.

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are already gathering information on the crash, a "Go Team" is being sent to the scene, the agency reported on Twitter.

David Eun, a passenger on the Asiana flight, reported on Twitter, “I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine. I'm OK. Surreal. Fire and rescue people all over the place. They're evacuating the injured. Haven't felt this way since 9/11. Lots of activity here. Friends, please don't call right now. I'm fine. Most people are totally calm.”

Los Angeles International Airport officials report, "Due to the accident at SFO, some flights scheduled to land at SFO are being diverted to LAX. Please contact airline for details."

Air traffic control communications with Asiana Airlines flight 214, click here.

Frontier Airlines reports, "Due to the unfortunate incident at SFO, the airport is closed and our flights today have been canceled. Please call reservations to rebook."

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