VERO BEACH

Crash occurred Saturday on North Harbor City Boulevard.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Law enforcement in Indian River County are investigating after a person died after being hit by a train. The incident happened around 6:09 a.m. Friday at a railroad crossing at 12th Street in Vero Beach. The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office received a report from an Florida East Coast railway worker that a train hit a pedestrian. Read: Police search for driver who struck teen on skateboard in hit-and-run crash in Winter GardenThe pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene and the train is stopped at the intersections of 12th Street and 8th Street. Deputies are investigating the deadly crash and are asking people to avoid the area.

The Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest is returning to Vero Beach for an egg-citing weekend ahead at the Royal Palm Pointe.

With more than 45,000 claims filed, estimated insured losses from Hurricane Nicole have topped $386 million, according to data posted on the Florida Office of...

After inspecting the Artemis I moon mission rocket following Hurricane Nicole, NASA is going to make "minor repairs" ahead of the upcoming launch.

A rare November hurricane caused widespread damage in Florida on Thursday, causing numerous homes to collapse into the ocean and forcing evacuations of dozens of hotels and high-rise condominiums. Hurricane Nicole, which made landfall near Vero Beach as a Category 1 storm, was quickly downgraded to a tropical storm . But it still pummeled a large swath of Florida's Atlantic coast with powerful waves and extensive beach erosion. “Structural damage along our coastline is unprecedented,” Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald said at a press conference late Thursday. Nicole was the first November hurricane to make landfall in Florida since 1985 and only the third since record-keeping began in 1853.

Despite Tropical Storm Nicole weakening to a depression, the storm brought flooding and a storm surge that killed at least five people in Florida on Thursday as it made its way north.

A seven-story condominium building in Daytona Beach partially collapsed Thursday after Nicole, which made landfall south of Vero Beach as a Category 1 hurricane, brought strong winds, rain and rough surf to the area.

Volusia County officials are continuing to evacuate at-risk buildings in Daytona Beach Shores as impacts from Nicole continue to surface.

The storm dropped upwards of a half-foot of rain over inland areas that experienced devastating floods a month ago.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — (AP) — Tropical Storm Nicole sent multiple homes toppling into the Atlantic Ocean Thursday and threatened a row of high rise condominiums in places where Hurricane Ian washed away seawalls and other remaining protections only weeks ago. Nicole remains a sprawling tropical storm, covering nearly the entire weather-weary state of Florida while also reaching into Georgia and the Carolinas before dawn on Thursday. Authorities had warned that Nicole's storm surge could further erode many beaches hit by Hurricane Ian in September. The brunt of the storm hit north of its center. Parts of Florida were devastated by Hurricane Ian, which struck as a Category 4 storm.

The 500-mile-wide Nicole made landfall as a hurricane and soon degraded into a tropical storm while battering Florida's east coast.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Strong winds from Tropical Storm Nicole were pounding Volusia County early Thursday morning. Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach around 3 a.m. Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane. NICOLE LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Nicole brings storm surge flooding to Brevard, Volusia countiesThe storm surge from Nicole started causing coastal erosion and structural damage throughout the day on Wednesday. Read: How to keep your pets safe during a natural disaster or emergencySeveral structures in Volusia County have been deemed structurally unsound due to previous damage from Hurricane Ian. Channel 9 has crews in Volusia County working to cover the storm and will provide continuing coverage on Eyewitness News.

Stronger winds picked up in Volusia County after Nicole made landfall just south of Vero Beach.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Parts of Brevard County are seeing power outages and strong winds as Hurricane Nicole made landfall early Thursday. Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach and powerful winds are being felt up and down Florida’s east coast. A recommended evacuation order went into effect in Brevard County. NICOLE LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane makes landfall on Florida’s east coastBrevard County officials are expecting significant impact from Nicole. Channel 9 has several crews in Brevard County monitoring the storm and will provide live coverage on Eyewitness News.

It was a Category 1 hurricane when it crossed over land just south of Vero Beach, forecasters said. Officials had ordered evacuations that included Mar-a-Lago.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — A Florida woman is accused of setting up a fake nursing school and defrauding 37 students out of more than $93,000, authorities said. Vero Beach police Chief David Currey said Wimes, whom students knew as Michelle Hudson, defrauded 37 people who paid tuition to attend Grace Medical Training in Vero Beach, TCPalm.com reported. “A co-worker was taking classes in Vero and she told me about it,” Nelson told the news outlet. “I realized what she was doing was wrong,” Nelson told TCPalm.com. It is uncertain whether she is being represented by an attorney, TCPalm.com reported.

Cities along the coast of southwest Florida are feeling the effects of Hurricane Ian.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — A former administrator at a South Florida parish is accused of using nearly $550,000 in donations for personal reasons as part of a $1.5 million embezzlement scheme with the church’s late pastor, authorities said. True was a former parish administrator at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, Treasure Coast Newspapers reported. Authorities said the account was hidden by the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach, according to the television station. In addition to paying off lines of credit, investigators said True withdrew $147,000 from the account and deposited it into her personal checking account, according to WPEC. Where people have given their hard-earned money every week, for five years from 2015 to 2020 to the tune of about $1.5 million,” Vero Beach police Chief David Currey told the television station.

Brightline, a private passenger rail line in Florida, announced a list of traffic advisories Monday as it works to construct a rail line extension connecting Orlando to West Palm Beach.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Slow and steady wins the race. The 15th annual Tour de Turtles is officially underway at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. The “migration marathon” sees the turtles begin from the nesting beaches of Vero Beach Resort to feeding grounds in the Bahamas, Caribbean and beyond, Disney said. Data collected during Tour de Turtles help officials make more informed decisions about sea turtle conservation methods and policies, Disney said. Since 2008, the Sea Turtle Conservancy and Disney have studied 26 sea turtles outfitted with the transmitters and released from the resort.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — SeaWorld continues to do its part in rescuing and rehabilitating manatees in Florida and just recently completed another successful manatee release in Central Florida. Following a full rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando, “Ciabatta” was returned to the wild at Round Island Riverside Park in Vero Beach last week. The male manatee, which is over 10 feet long, was rescued in Brevard County last winter. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 SeaWorld 'Ciabatta' Manatee Release Vero Beach (SeaWorld)Ciabatta was found in poor physical condition and had buoyancy issues. Free beer returns to SeaWorld Orlando for the summerCiabatta gained 386 pounds during recovery, weighing a robust 1380 pounds at the time of his release.

Coast Guard searching for missing man after boat washes ashore in Brevard County (U.S. Coast Guard)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The search for a missing Vero Beach man off the Brevard County coast entered its fourth day on Sunday. Read: Coast Guard searching for missing man after boat washes ashore in Brevard CountyOfficials have been searching for 68-year-old Dale Hossfield of Vero Beach since his fishing boat washed ashore near Melbourne Beach on Wednesday night. Coast Guard searching for missing man after boat washes ashore in Brevard County (U.S. Coast Guard)The Coast Guard said that Hossfield left from Fort Pierce Inlet around 2 p.m. Wednesday and has not been heard from since. Read: 5K reward offered after former Osceola High School football player killed in drive-by shootingThe search for Hossfield began after Coast Guard Sector Miami received reports that a 29-foot boat had washed ashore with the engines still running on Melbourne Beach. Coast Guard searching for missing man after boat washes ashore in Brevard County (U.S. Coast Guard)Units with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and U.S. Coast Guard are involved in the search.

Coast Guard searching for missing man after boat washes ashore in Brevard County (U.S. Coast Guard)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard continues its search for a missing Vero Beach man off the Brevard County coast on Saturday. Read: Coast Guard searching for missing man after boat washes ashore in Brevard CountyOfficials have been searching for 68-year-old Dale Hossfield of Vero Beach since his fishing boat washed ashore near Melbourne Beach on Wednesday night. The Coast Guard said that Hossfield left from Fort Pierce Inlet around 2 p.m. Wednesday and has not been heard from since. Units with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and U.S. Coast Guard are involved in the search. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Coast Guard searching for missing man after boat washes ashore in Brevard County (U.S. Coast Guard)Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Food truck explodes at Florida seafood festival Photo shows the aftermath of the explosion in Vero Beach. (Vero Beach Police Department)VERO BEACH, Fla. — One person was hurt when a food truck exploded at a festival in south Florida. Food truck explodes at seafood festival The blast tore apart the food truck and sent one woman to the hospital with severe burns. Food truck explodes at seafood festival The blast tore apart the food truck and sent one woman to the hospital with severe burns. Food truck explodes at Florida seafood festival The blast tore apart the food truck and sent one woman to the hospital with severe burns.

Burn victim flown to Orlando after food truck explodes at seafood festivalVERO BEACH, Fla. — (AP) — A food truck exploded during a seafood festival in Florida on Saturday, sending one person to the hospital with severe burns, according to authorities. WATCH: ‘Nothing at all on the shelf’: Parents seek imported baby formula amid shortageThe Vero Beach police said state and local fire officials are investigating the cause of the explosion. The department posted photos of the scene on social media that showed the sides and roof of the truck blown off the vehicle. Photos: Burn victim flown to Orlando after food truck explodes at Florida seafood festivalExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 4 Burn victim flown to Orlando after food truck explodes at seafood festivalOne person was flown to a hospital burn unit in Orlando. WATCH: Osceola County deputy’s Taser caused gas station fire that injured man, 3 deputies, report saysThere were no other injuries and the festival continued as authorities secured the scene of the explosion, police said.

A food truck exploded during a seafood festival in Florida on Saturday, sending one person to the hospital with severe burns, according to authorities.

Two people were killed early Saturday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Brevard County when a pickup truck was rear-ended at high speed, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A 29-year-old man being held for his mental health in a Florida hospital was fatally shot after he grabbed a pair of scissors and threatened to stab nearby sheriff’s deputies.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies in South Florida on Thursday shot a man whom authorities were seeking in connection to a fatal beating at a mosque more than 100 miles to the north earlier in the day, authorities said. Deputies responded to a Sam’s Club parking lot and conducted a traffic stop, the television station reported. Deputies shot the man three times, the newspaper reported. The way he pulls his fingers out, points them at the deputies,” Flowers told reporters. I’m not sure if he will make it or not.”None of the Indian River County deputies were injured, Flowers said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference in Vero Beach.

Beer, wings and live music will rock Vero Beach this weekend.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — A woman was arrested in Florida after dashcam video showed her leading police on a chase through a Vero Beach golf course. >> Read more trending newsDeputies with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said Jodi Ann Harvey drove through the gate of the Grand Harbor Golf Course and onto the course, WPTV reported. Dashcam video released from the sheriff’s office shows deputies making multiple attempts to stop her. Deputies were able to use a PIT maneuver to stop her, damaging her car and two sheriff’s office vehicles, WPBF reported. Harvey was taken to the hospital before being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and DUI.

Teachers arrested: Darius Cohen, left, and Akkua Hallback were fired after an incident at a Vero Beach apartment complex. (Indian River County Sheriff's Office)VERO BEACH, Fla. — Two former college athletes who had recently taken physical education jobs at South Florida schools were fired after their arrests in connection with a shooting that wounded a man at a Vero Beach apartment, authorities said. >> Read more trending newsDarius Tyonne Cohen, 26, of Clewiston, was charged with attempted murder, according to Indian River County Sheriff’s Office online booking records. At a news conference on Monday, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said the shooting occurred after the men spent a night out in Vero Beach and were returning to a woman’s apartment. “You go through a background check,” Indian River County Superintendent David Moore told WPEC.

Two newly hired physical education teachers at a Florida elementary school were arrested after the shooting of a man whose apartment they entered thinking it belonged to someone else following a night of drinking. One of the teachers mistakenly climbed into bed with the man, his wife and their baby, and the other teacher went to the bathroom before the male occupant of the house escorted them out. The teachers believed they had entered the apartment of one of their friends.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of buying a vehicle for a teenager in exchange for sexual favors with the girl’s underage friend, authorities said. According to online records, Mustapick allegedly agreed to buy the 19-year-old a vehicle in exchange for sex, but after the purchase the man allegedly coerced the younger girl into sexual acts and had her “sign a contract,” TCPalm.com reported. According to the report, the underage teen said the “contract” also specified the number of hours she was to spend with Mustapick, along with the nature of the sexual acts. According to the affidavit, the teen told detectives that after she refused to return to his home, Mustapick took the vehicle back from her friend. Detectives reviewed photos and video on the victim’s cellphone that allegedly depicted sexual acts before arresting Mustapick, according to TCPalm.com.

Fake bomb: A handwritten note by a Florida man warned people to stay away from his Vero Beach home. (Indian River County Sheriff's Office)VERO BEACH, Fla. — A Florida man resorted to an explosive decision to ward off an eviction notice. >> Read more trending newsAccording to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, the man, who was not identified, taped a fake bomb to his porch Wednesday morning. You have family!”The sheriff’s office said it invoked the Baker Act and took the man to an area health clinic for evaluation. The eviction notice was eventually served, the sheriff’s office said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will be speaking in Vero Beach at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

A shark bites a man near a Disney resort in Central Florida.

Manager Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers started Jackie Robinson Day with a private tribute to the Hall of Famer and civil rights advocate.

Gray Vinson shared a video showing a gator wading through the water. To the left of the screen is what appears to be a small shark swimming at pace with the gator. Vinson explained the waterway is part of the Indian River Lagoon. According to the estuary’s website, the Indian River Lagoon is known as “the most bio-diverse habitat in North America.” The lagoon has a special ecosystem that provides a varied habitat and 4,000 plant and animal species. Though the gator’s companion is yet to be confirmed to be a shark, the lagoon is known to be a haven for bull sharks.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida A&M University will host a state-operated community COVID-19 vaccination site as early as next week, said President Larry Robinson in a news release on Saturday. “We want to reach out to the community, which has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” said Tanya Tatum, FAMU director of Student Health Services. “This is how we are going to start reaching the underserved.”FAMU started running a community-based COVID-19 testing site at Bragg Memorial Stadium on April 25, 2020, administering nearly 250,000 tests. Given FAMU’s Robinson said a vaccination site on campus would make sense. The FAMU site will help remedy these problems,” said Robinson, who was among FAMU eligible employees and students who received their first vaccination dose in January at the Student Health Center on campus.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County reports 308 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine went to waste in the county. [TRENDING: How to get a vaccine in Fla. | Wanted: Man accused of shooting at detective | Cops: Fla. man decapitated hamster]Ad“These doses were not wasted by the county health department, but by community partners,” a DOH spokesperson said in a statement. “We continue to work with all partners to ensure no additional doses are wasted.”This comes as Palm Beach County is currently undergoing an audit from the state after more than 1,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were reported damaged last week. Ron DeSantis said health officials wanted to inquire after receiving reports of doses that were spoiled because they were improperly stored. Following the audit’s announcement, News 6 reached out to every DOH office in Central Florida about the number of doses, if any, that have gone to waste.

All rights reserved)Vaccination record cards are shown before residents are inoculated, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at the Isles of Vero Beach assisted and independent senior living community in Vero Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)The latest scam has to do with COVID-19 vaccine cards. Vaccination cards have personal information on them like your full name, your birthday and where you got your vaccine. AdScammers have been caught selling fake vaccination cards online in Great Britain. If you want to share the momentous occasion online, you can take a photo of your vaccine sticker or take a selfie at the clinic.

CVS and Walgreens have started a massive vaccination push in nearly all states, and they say they are proceeding on schedule. But resident advocates and experts are anxious about delays in delivering vaccines that have been available for more than a month. CVS and Walgreens say states determined when they could start giving shots at assisted-living facilities, and they have finished first-dose clinics when they were allowed to begin in December. HospitalizationsAs of Monday afternoon, there were currently 6,142 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. AdVaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

The CDC looked at more than 11,000 nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities that had at least one vaccination clinic between the middle of December and the middle of January. Data previously showed that people who work in nursing homes and long-term care facilities get flu vaccines at lower rates than other health-care workers. Surveys suggest that long-term care workers are skeptical the shots work and don't think viruses spread easily from them to the people they care for. The government tasked CVS and Walgreens with administering the shots to long-term care homes in nearly every state. Each vaccine requires two shots a few weeks apart, and CVS and Walgreens say they have wrapped up first-dose clinics in nursing homes.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)ORLANDO, Fla. – Five hundred seniors received their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at an Orlando church Sunday. State representatives Geraldine Thompson and Travaris McCurdy teamed up with the Florida Department of Emergency Management to hold the event. Ad[READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Florida reports 14,000 new COVID-19 cases as state deals with new variant of virus]Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Jan. 31CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 7,695 new cases on Sunday bringing the state’s overall total to 1,721,377 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. HospitalizationsAs of Sunday afternoon, there were currently 6,101 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

Ad— Frustration is growing at long-term care facilities over the pace of COVID-19 vaccination efforts. CVS and Walgreens, which have led the vaccination push in long-term care settings in nearly all states, say they are proceeding on schedule. AdThe average number of daily deaths has risen in the nation's three most populous states, according to the COVID Tracking Project. The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in California has increased over the past two weeks from about 532 deaths per day on Jan. 16 to nearly 551 daily deaths on Jan. 30. Portman discussed the GOP proposal on CNN’s “State of the Union.”AdICYMI: Many states have had trouble distributing the coronavirus vaccine equitably.

DeSantis made the announcement outside a Publix in Vero Beach while touting the state’s success in distributing vaccines as quickly as possible. “We’re hundreds of thousands ahead of the next state,” DeSantis said, later adding, “We are No. 1 in the U.S. for doses per capita, according to CDC data.”In announcing the expansion of the Publix program, DeSantis said there are now 261 Publix stores offering the vaccine. DeSantis was asked about suggestions from the White House that Florida is holding back doses of the vaccine. “...Florida is averaging more than 300,000 first doses per week, but we are not going to divert second doses from our seniors.

Doug Gray of Melbourne brought his 87-year-old dad to the health department drive-through site in Vero Beach rather than the Brevard County site in Viera. News 6 also met people Tuesday from Palm Beach County, an hour and a half away. And also like the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, Indian River County advised people to sign up for its text-alerts to know immediately when new appointments open up. “I can’t say enough about Indian River County and the whole nine yards. In Indian River, the county Tuesday afternoon said it does not know when its next shipment is coming.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Surf City, North Carolina. "We are forecasting it to become a hurricane before it reaches the coast this evening," senior hurricane specialist Daniel Brown said. Authorities were getting ready in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ordering swimmers out of the water to avoid rough surf and strong rip currents. Were from Michigan, so we get snow and go through it all," Aliyah Owens, who arrived in Myrtle Beach for a summer vacation Sunday, told WTBW-TV. Anything that can move we tie down or bring inside, Philo told The Sun News of Myrtle Beach.

Photos from before 2009 of a group, including Mike Baluts, before a paddle out to erect an American flag on the S.S. Breconshire. The wreck is one of many along Florida's Treasure Coast that have since become home to artificial and coral reefs and the marine life that depends on them. Every year friends of Mike Blatus paddle out and erect an American flag on the S.S. Breconshire shipwreck. A memorial for Vero Beach environmentalist Mike Blatus. On Tuesday night in Vero Beach, as the outer bands of Hurricane Dorian lapped the coastline, "Mike's flag" was no longer standing.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Central Florida residents started to feel the impact of Hurricane Dorian Tuesday night. 5:45 p.m. TuesdayBeach erosion started to eat the seawall along Ocean Drive in Vero Beach. #BREAKING Beach erosion in Vero Beach eating the sea wall along Ocean Drive in Vero Beach. Around 5:50 p.m. Tuesday Hurricane Dorian continued to get wider, hurricane force winds may hit Cape Canaveral later in the night. Tropical-storm-force winds are expected to hit the rest of Central Florida Tuesday night.

The waters are choppy and the tides are high in Vero Beach as Hurricane Dorian approaches. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

SEBASTIAN, Fla. - A 41-year-old Florida landscaper was electrocuted Tuesday when he came in contact with a power line, police said. Sebastian police said Pablo OCampo Bustamante, of Vero Beach, died around 11:53 a.m. when he was electrocuted in the 700 block of Dixie Terrace in Indian River County. Police said officers were called to the scene and the power was turned off by Florida Power & Light. It was then determined that Bustamante had died, police said. Details about how he came into contact with the line have not been released.

VERO BEACH, Fla. – A Florida woman is accused of abandoning her 2-year-old son in a restaurant parking lot after she unsuccessfully tried to give him to strangers, police said. Amber Warner, 31, approached a couple as they were leaving the Kountry Kitchen in Vero Beach and tried to get them to take her son, who she was carrying, Vero Beach police said. Warner told the couple, "I can't do it," and then put the boy on the ground before driving away in a black truck, police said. Warner faces charges of unlawful desertion of a child and resisting arrest without violence. Her 2-year-old son appeared to be in good health and was placed in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

VERO BEACH, Fla. – A single-engine plane safely landed on a stretch of Interstate 95 in Vero Beach early Monday after the pilot had an onboard emergency, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Firas Awad H. Alghamdi, 20, of Saudi Arabia, landed the 2004 Piper Cherokee PA-28 about 1:30 a.m. in the southbound lane of the highway at mile marker 144 in Vero Beach. Alghamdi, who took off from Fort Pierce, said the plane apparently ran out of gas, according to officials. The aircraft was loaded onto a truck and moved south to a rest area near mile marker 133. The plane is owned by Ari Ben Aviator Inc. of Fort Pierce.