Nation Briefs

Wrong-way driver a ‘pot smoker’

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. | New York State Police investigators said in a written report that a woman who killed seven people and herself in a crash on the Taconic State Parkway was a regular marijuana user.

The report said Diane Schuler’s husband told police his wife “smoked marijuana once in a while to relieve the stress of work and the kids.”

Mrs. Schuler’s sister-in-law told police she “didn’t believe in medicine and used marijuana to relax,” usually smoking after her children went to bed. Relatives of the crash victims got the report Friday during a meeting with police and prosecutors, then made it available to reporters.

Mrs. Schuler, her daughter and three of her nieces were killed when she drove the wrong way on the highway in July. Three men in the car she hit were also killed.

Engine fire grounds jet

ATLANTA | A company spokesman said a Delta plane headed to Philadelphia had to return to the gate just before takeoff from Atlanta because of an engine fire.

Delta spokesman Carlos Santos said the plane was taxiing along the runway Saturday afternoon when there were reports of “some flames coming out of the engine.” He said airport fire trucks responded immediately.

It was not clear what caused the fire.

Mr. Santos said there wasn’t any smoke in the cabin and passengers were quickly evacuated from the plane. He said all passengers were put on flights to Philadelphia later Saturday.

Failed transformer disrupts Ellis Island

JERSEY CITY, N.J. | Fire officials say operations at Ellis Island have been widely disrupted by a transformer fire.

Armando Roman, director of Jersey City’s Fire and Emergency Services Department, says firefighters were dispatched Saturday after reports of an elevator emergency.

The incident was reported as a working fire because some people saw heavy smoke, but further investigation determined that a transformer had failed in the museum’s mechanical room. No injuries were reported but visitors were taken off the small island in New York Harbor. The nearby Statue of Liberty remained open.

Ground broken for Flight 93 memorial

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