High Speed

With virtually no fanfare, Congress last month gave a huge boost to proponents of high-speed trains that someday might zip as fast as 300 miles per hour between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh or other U.S. cities. Buried in the massive Surface Transportation Act was $800 million for research and development on high-speed train technology, plus legal changes that could make it easier to get private-sector or state funding for new high- speed projects. The transportation bill represents a major victory, rail proponents say, because it begins to put financing of new high-speed lines on a more equal footing with other big transportation projects, such as airports, highways and ports.

Three young men, friends through high school, were killed early yesterday in a violent accident on rural Tuckahoe Road in Gloucester County. The accident tore their car to shreds, ejecting them and a fourth friend, who survived, police said. "The vehicle was extremely unrecognizable," said a Franklin Township officer, who said that the car's apparent high speed was a contributing factor in the mishap. Killed were Franklinville residents Benny S. Sorbello Jr., 21, of Tuckahoe Road; Brandon S. Heck, 19, of Pennsylvania Avenue, and Michael T. Petsch, 20, of Stanton Avenue, police said.

One night seven years ago, Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy James Everett Smith saw two teenagers on a motorcycle pass by at high speed. He decided to pursue them in his patrol car. Seventy-five seconds later, after a chase in a residential area that reached speeds of up to 100 miles an hour, Smith reached the crest of a hill, saw the motorcycle had stopped, and slammed on his brakes. It was too late. The patrol car struck motorcycle passenger Phillip Lewis, 16, and killed him. The boy's parents sued for damages, contending that Smith's action had deprived their son of his constitutional right to life.

Two men were killed in a automobile crash on South 61st Street in Philadelphia Sunday morning. According to the police, a 58-year-old man traveling southbound at a high speed swerved his black Chevy Impala into oncoming traffic when he reached the 3200 block of the street at about 9:15 a.m. His car struck a blue Chevy Tracker driven by a 38-year-old man. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release the names of either men Sunday afternoon pending notification of family.

A woman struck by a hit-and-run driver in Cherry Hill died Saturday, two days after she was run down on the shoulder of Route 70. Binh Tsan, 25, of Runnemede, was hit at 12:30 p.m. near Ranoldo Terrace by a silver or light-gold car, possibly a Pontiac Grand Prix, with tinted windows, police said. Anyone with information can call police at 856-488-7828. Tsan was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. She she died at 3:50 p.m. The victim, who worked at the law office of Eric A. Shore on Ranoldo, had finished lunch at the Barclay Farms Shopping Center.

Criticism of school board 'rent control' is hollow As expected, my June 2 commentary ("Taxpayers need some kind of 'rent control' over school boards") was attacked by those who benefit from school board taxation powers. Unfortunately, space limitations prohibit a full discussion of a complex issue, which then allows critics to cast doubt on the facts. For example, Paul Pflaumer's letter argued that my use of Pennsylvania's poor performance on the SAT college entrance exam (45th in the nation)

Kelly Drive was closed for nearly three hours Monday afternoon after a two-car crash killed two people and left a third in critical condition, authorities said. Rescue crews were dispatched at 2:52 p.m. to Kelly and Strawberry Mansion Drives, authorities said. Police said a silver Volkswagen was traveling north at high speed when it crossed the roadway and collided head-on with a green Toyota Sienna. The Volkswagen's driver, a 34-year-old woman, and her passenger were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A motorist accused of driving at a high speed through Collingdale's Fourth of July parade was held for court action on multiple charges after a preliminary hearing July 15 in Collingdale Regional Court. According to court records, the driver, Richard Dewitt Jr., 19, of the 400 block of Pusey Avenue, Collingdale, was charged with aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, making terroristic threats, criminal mischief, driving at unsafe speeds, fleeing and eluding police, and not obeying a person directing traffic.

Two men killed after a high-speed chase with police early Tuesday have been identified by the Chester County coroner. Godyin Tran, 19, of Downingtown, the driver of a white 2000 Mitsubishi Galant, was trapped in the car and died at the scene from head, neck and chest injuries, Coroner Rodger Rothenberger said. Julian Bulat, 23, of Secane, was thrown from the car and died of head and chest injuries, Rothenberger said. Toxicology reports are pending on both men, he said. Both were suspects in a theft in West Goshen minutes before the one-car crash in East Goshen at 2:53 a.m., police said.

After a high-speed chase in which two cars were damaged but no one was injured, Tredyffrin police arrested a man yesterday for allegedly robbing a Strafford bank twice within the last two months. The police account of the arrest of William Love, 35, of the 2400 block of Clifford Street in Philadelphia, contained all the elements found in the plots of television police shows: a high-speed chase with flashing lights, blaring sirens, and an accident involving the getaway car and two other motorists.

New Jersey authorities are looking into reports that two state police troopers recently escorted a caravan of high-speed luxury sports cars traveling on the Garden State Parkway at more than 100 m.p.h. The Star-Ledger of Newark, citing public complaints it obtained and interviews it conducted, reported that the high-speed escort was under way March 30 in the highway's southbound lanes. Witnesses told the newspaper state police patrol cars with emergency lights flashing were in front of and behind the caravan.

The crowd was good and loud, suitably into it. But these weren't Cabrini Crazies. The crowd wasn't why this cozy wooded campus on the northern edges of Radnor currently is the toughest place for a road team to win a men's college basketball game in the Philadelphia area. Truth is, 457 people can make only so much noise. The real reason Cabrini has won 37 straight home games, and 40 straight at home in league play, became obvious just a few possessions into last Wednesday night's game, when a bearded, under-6-footer took the ball across halfcourt, a one-player fastbreak.

Kelly Drive was closed for nearly three hours Monday afternoon after a two-car crash killed two people and left a third in critical condition, authorities said. Rescue crews were dispatched at 2:52 p.m. to Kelly and Strawberry Mansion Drives, authorities said. Police said a silver Volkswagen was traveling north at high speed when it crossed the roadway and collided head-on with a green Toyota Sienna. The Volkswagen's driver, a 34-year-old woman, and her passenger were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

WASHINGTON - Congress voted yesterday to kill funds for President Obama's signature high-speed-rail program, but the initiative may have some life in it still. Republican lawmakers are claiming credit for killing the program. But billions of dollars still in the pipeline will ensure work will continue on some projects. And it's still possible that money from another transportation- grant program can be steered to high-speed trains. Obama had requested $8 billion in fiscal 2012 for the program and $53 billion over six years.

As part of a reorganization of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor planning efforts, the railroad's high-speed rail chief is leaving. Al Engel, a Philadelphia engineer who was named vice president of high-speed rail in September 2010, will leave Amtrak next month "to pursue other opportunities," Amtrak said in a statement Tuesday. Amtrak said it was combining its Northeast Corridor development offices and its high-speed rail efforts into a new Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Investment Development department.

As part of a reorganization of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor planning efforts, the railroad's high-speed rail chief is leaving. Al Engel, a Philadelphia engineer who was named vice president of high-speed rail in September 2010, will leave Amtrak next month "to pursue other opportunities," Amtrak said in a statement Tuesday. Amtrak said it is combining its Northeast Corridor development offices and its high-speed rail efforts into a new Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Investment Development department.

SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line is operating normally again for the first time since tracks were damaged by storm waters on Sept. 9. Passengers should board trolleys on their regular platforms, SEPTA said this morning. Trolleys will operate every 15 minutes to Bryn Mawr and every 30 minutes to the Norristown Transportation Center, the transit agency said. Contact the Breaking News Desk at 215-854-2443 or online@phillynews.com .

By Bob Previdi Whether you are an environmentalist, a train enthusiast, or just someone who wants fast, efficient transportation between major cities, there seems to be agreement that the United States must find a better way to bring high-speed rail service to the Northeast. The University of Pennsylvania and Amtrak have some bold ideas on the subject. But the price tag just for Amtrak's proposals - $117 billion over 30 years - has raised concerns from Rep. John Mica (R., Fla.)

A woman struck by a hit-and-run driver in Cherry Hill died Saturday, two days after she was run down on the shoulder of Route 70. Binh Tsan, 25, of Runnemede, was hit at 12:30 p.m. near Ranoldo Terrace by a silver or light-gold car, possibly a Pontiac Grand Prix, with tinted windows, police said. Anyone with information can call police at 856-488-7828. Tsan was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. She died there Saturday at 3:50 p.m. The victim, who worked at the law office of Eric A. Shore on Ranoldo, had finished lunch at the Barclay Farms Shopping Center.