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

SHANKSVILLE, Pa. | With the words “Let’s roll” - the command issued by United Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer to lead the passenger revolt during the flight’s 9/11 terrorist hijacking - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, 39 victims’ relatives and dignitaries turned shovels of dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for a permanent national memorial.

“We made it. Not to our goal, not to the finish line, certainly not any semblance of closure, but nevertheless, we made it to the next milestone of our journey,” said Gordon Felt, whose brother, Edward Felt, was one of the 40 passengers and crew members who died when the plane crashed into a field near rural Shanksville, about 65 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.

The government intends to have the first phase completed by Sept. 11, 2011 - the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Warship with WTC steel commissioned

NEW YORK | The USS New York, built in part with steel from the rubble of the World Trade Center, was put into service Saturday as a symbol of healing and strength.

“No matter how many times you attack us, we always come back,” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said at the amphibious assault ship’s commissioning. “America always comes back. That’s what this ship represents.”

He spoke on a Manhattan pier where hundreds of Navy officers and sailors joined first responders and families of Sept. 11 victims for the ceremony.

“I hereby place the USS New York in commission,” Mr. Mabus announced.