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4 dead after explosion at T2 Labs chemical plant in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE - An explosion and fire at a chemical plant killed four people Wednesday and injured at least 14, fire officials said. It was not clear what caused the explosion about 1:30 p.m. at the T2 Laboratories Inc. plant, which makes chemical solvents and fuel additives, said Tom Francis, a fire rescue spokesman. The chemicals at the plant made the environment "incredibly dangerous for the first responders," Francis said. "Explosions were generating all kinds of side brush fires and other kinds of blazes."

FWC: Fisherman Killed In Boating Accident in Jacksonville - Dixie Mama

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville man died in a boating accident Sunday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Fishermen near Clapboard Creek Bridge off the St. Johns River found Fred Francis Odom, 57. The fishermen called 911, and the victim’s body was recovered by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which had the first crew at the scene. Odom reportedly was attempting to secure his commercial fishing vessel, a 1967 31-foot Sea Skiff named “Dixie Mama,” which had broken free from its anchor. According to FWC investigator Kevin Larson, an 8-foot dinghy was found adrift nearby. “It appears that this tragedy was an accidental drowning and emphasizes the importance of wearing a life jacket when on the water,” Larson said. Odom was not wearing a life jacket, according to FWC. FWC continues to investigate the accident.

Crew members' location still unknown

The mother of one of four missing crew members aboard the charter boat Joe Cool is pleading for help from the South Florida boating community to resume the search for the victims. Leanne Van Laar has enlisted volunteers from the nonprofit Texas EquuSearch to help her find out what happened to her daughter, Kelley Branam, who disappeared along with husband captain Jake Branam and two crew members after two men allegedly hijacked the boat in September. But the Texas group does not have a boat; it needs a craft 40-to-60-feet long to conduct a search of the waters and atolls from Miami to south of Bimini, Bahamas, according to Cindy Wisdom, Texas EquuSearch case manager. Wisdom and Van Laar hope someone will agree to donate a boat for up to three days.

Man falls 50 feet aboard cruise ship

MIAMI - A man who fell 50 feet aboard a cruise ship Friday morning has been taken back to land and is being treated for injuries at Jackson Memorial Hospital, officials said. The man fell sometime before 5 a.m. aboard the Norwegian Majesty, a cruise traveling from the Florida Keys to Charleston, N.C., according to a report by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. He fell within the ship and not into the water.