The only known fatal accident involving a nuclear reactor in America happened on this day.
All in Accidents
The Ashtabula Horror
92 of 159 passengers would die when a wrought-iron bridge collapsed and the Pacific Express fell 70 feet into the frozen Ashtabula River.
Nancy Cruzan
The Cruzan Family's fight for their daughter's right to die helped raise awareness about the need for advanced health directives and living wills.
Sole Survivor
At 21,000 feet the flight ran into a severe thunderstorm and violent turbulence.
Silver Bridge Collapse
46 people died as cars and trucks plunged 100 feet into the near-freezing water of the Ohio River.
Catastrophic Fail
A Los Angeles reservoir crumbled apart and released 250,000,000 gallons of water into the surrounding neighborhoods.
John Kendrick's Final Salute
John Kendrick was a Cape Cod sea captain who lived an adventure-filled life.
The Flying Lawnmower Incident
A 40-pound airplane shaped like a lawnmower took off from the endzone and veered over the crowd.
Smoke on the Water
This was the night that the historic Montreux Casino on the shore of Lake Geneva, Switzerland burned to the ground.
Times Beach
It cost $32 million to relocate the citizens, plus another $110 million for the subsequent cleanup.
Hit by a Meteorite
Ann Elizabeth Hodges was taking a nap on this day when she was rudely awakened by a meteorite crashing through her roof.
Exxon Valdez
Estimates are that as many 250,000 sea birds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 247 bald eagles and billions of salmon eggs were killed.
The Lakeview Gusher
It would flow out of control for 18 months. Over 9 million barrels of crude oil were spilled before the well could finally be contained. At its peak, the spill formed a 60-acre lake of oil.
Quebec Bridge
In 1907 two massive sections of the bridge snapped off and plunged over 300 feet into the Saint Lawrence River.
Death by Cornflake
Lon Chaney is most remembered for his iconic roles as Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and as Erik in The Phantom of the Opera.
Adios Amigo
Jim Reeves was one of the smoothest crooners on the airwaves in the fifties and early sixties. His velvety voice helped establish the Nashville Sound.
Death at the Hyatt
114 people were killed and over 200 were injured when an elevated walkway collapsed at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Missouri.