European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amp be 8 a a a the stars and stripes saturday january 5,1991 2 charged in bus Accident that injured 31 americans by Mary Neth staff writer Ober Wesel Germany a a Driver and an Auto Mechanic have been charged with negligence in a bus Accident last year that injured 31 american students. The Koblenz prosecutor Armin Ernst said a court Date has not been set but he expects the hearing to be held in february or March. The German Driver of the bus Werner Becker has been charged with driving too fast for Road conditions. French Mechanic Claude Weimert was charged with not properly maintaining the brakes. The Accident occurred at 5 35 . Feb 25 Between Dell Hofen and Ober Wcisel while the chartered bus was going Down a Hill with several hairpin turns. A total of 43 american teen agers and adults headed for a we Klong arts workshop in Oberwise were on the bus when it crashed through a Guardrail and plunged 132 feet Down a Steep embankment. Some passengers were trapped inside and had to be freed by fire Crews. The injured were taken to eight by Ron Mckinney staff writer Darmstadt Germany a four american youths have been arrested in connection with the $20,000 Darmstadt Post Exchange jewelry burglary a Community spokesman said Friday. A they did confess to the pm break in and also to some other recent burglaries including the child development Center. And an attempted break in at the sight and sound a said it. Col. William Harkey the Darmstadt Public affairs officer. The child care Center was broken into last month and a Var player was stolen Harkey said. The burglars weren table to get into the sight and sound store. Harkey would not say How authorities initially linked the four youths who Are Between the Ages of 16 and 19, to the  broke through the Glass door at the main Entrance of the Post Exchange late Christmas night or Early dec. 26. Inside Glass counters were shattered and designer watches Gold chains and rings were removed. Military police were not alerted until about 6 30 . Dec 26 when a woman noticed the broken door. The Darmstadt Post Exchange docs not have an alarm sys Tern although a work order was placed for one More hospitals in Koblenz Coppard Ober Wesco Bingen simmer and Frankfurt. Most were released quickly although one student remained hospitalized for More than two months. The passengers were brought together in May for counselling by a crisis intervention team from Kaiserslautern District office in the department of defense dependents schools. They included students teachers and Parent chaperones from bad Kreuz Nach Baum Holder Kaiserslautern Ramstein and we Brucken. Becker 35, was a part time Driver for the Muller Rei san company of Blie Kastel and Weimert 52, was a full time Mechanic at the company. The prosecutor said that because of High Speed and defective brakes Becker lost control on a curve. The bus hit an oncoming car injuring that Driver before careening Down the Sharp incline. Investigators concluded that the left front Brake was defective and that the rear Brake linings were worn Down to the Metal Ernst said. Neither suspect has admitted to any responsibility for the Accident. The Book in which Brake tests and Brake maintenance Are recorded disappeared after the Accident Ernst said Drivers can be fined for not having the Book in the vehicle. A the disappearance of the Book May influence the judge to mete out a stiffer sentence a he said. A conviction can result in a Fine probation or a jail term the severity to be determined by the judge. A since the Accident involved 37 schoolchildren i believe it is quite a serious Case. Lam hoping for a jail sentence a Ernst said. Than three years ago. A a new alarm system was supposedly a part of the renovation plan a said cafes spokesman air Force master sgt. Dayton Strickland. The Darmstadt Post Exchange was closed nov. 27-29 for renovations. Community officials have not explained Why the alarms were not installed. Among the items stolen were Gucci watches leather jackets and half a Case of cigarettes said Strickland. The merchandise was valued at $23,905. Harkey said he could not release the names of the four male youths who Are being treated As juveniles because they Are All dependent students. He also said he did not . The teen agers were released to the custody of their parents following their arrest tuesday night. The four also Are suspects in recent automobile break ins Harkey said. _ a a authorities have recovered about 80 percent of the stolen property Harkey said. They Are still looking for the rest of the property which he said was a fenced aha key would not say whether criminal charges would be sought or if the suspects would be returned to the states. The investigation by military authorities is continuing. Quot world today woman who gave drugs to Belushi arrested again Vancouver British Columbia a the woman who administered a lethal dose of drugs to comedian John Belushi in 1982 has been arrested on another drug charge. Catherine Smith 43, was arrested thursday in a bar for investigation of Possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking said sgt Bill Warwick. She was to appear in provincial court Friday. The Ontario born Smith a former backup Singer with Gordon Lightfoot and Hoyt Axton pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in be Lushis death and served 18 months of a three year sentence in a California jail. Belushi died March 5, 1982, of an overdose of heroin and cocaine. After her release in March 1988. Smith moved to Toronto where she worked As a Legal Secretary and toured As a speaker warning teen agers of the perils of drugs. Israeli reservist sentenced for aiding drug dealers Jerusalem apr a Jerusalem court on thursday gave a one year suspended sentence to a Reserve army officer convicted of Selling military equipment and expertise to colombians. Colombian officials have accused Reserve it. Col. Yair Klein of arming and training private armies for drug traffickers. The charge Here however said Only that his dealings were with a group called the Farmers organization. The magistrates court said Klein would have to serve the year in jail if he committed a similar offence within three years. It also fined Klein $40,000 and his Security company Hod hah Anit $35,000. 7 _ Klein a former army counter terrorist expert was convicted after he pleaded guilty to negotiating to sell military expertise without a License the actual Sale of expertise and the unlawful Sale of. Equipment such As weapons belts and night gun Scopes. A a. A a a a a a. He had faced a maximum three year sentence. Go Dies German injured in 2-Vekicle Accident bad Kreuz Nach Germany a amps a an 8th inf div Soldier was killed and a German Man seriously injured thursday morning in a two vehicle Accident on Highway l-169 near Rusch Borg. A spec. Melvin Melendez 22, was pronounced dead by or. Capt Nicholas a. Holliday upon arrival at the 30th Field Hospital in Baum older. Adolf Fritch 54, was in serious condition with head and neck injuries following the 8 . Accident. _ Melendez a native of Philadelphia was assigned to. Services Btry 4th in 29th Field arty m Baum older. He is survived by his wife Maritza and daughter Janine. A. ,. A a _. A memorial service is scheduled at to . Jan 7 in Baum older a Chapel 2. The Accident is under investigation. Held on crash in Schwabach kills Vii corps no German Furtun Germany a amps a a Vii corps no was killed in a dec. 26 traffic Accident in Schwabach a Community spokeswoman said Friday. A. _ sgt. Maceo Williams of he Btry 6th in 3rd air defense arty was pronounced dead at the scene after his car struck another car head on said Anne Camden of the Niernberg military  the German Driver of the other car also was killed. A German passenger in the second car was taken to a local Hospital and later released. R Williams is survived by his wife and two children. Authorities Are investigating the Accident. No further information was available 4 american youths arrested in $20,000 burglary of pm Berlin apr the government and the pharmaceutical company Union thursday urged a resumption of Medicine deliveries to Eastern Germany by Western firms protesting a Rule requiring them to sell drugs at a 55 percent discount. Some pharmaceutical firms in Western Germany stopped deliveries wednesday causing hundreds of drug stores in former East Germany to balk at opening on the first business Day of the new year. There were no reports thursday of pharmacies remaining closed or of unusual medical problems related to the Medicine shortfall. Labor minister Norbert Liim sought to ease the situation through talks in Bonn with Lubertus von Loper head of the German society of pharmaceutical industries. They issued a joint Appeal asking pharmaceutical makers to make full deliveries and Blum promised a to fight for a Quick and acceptable Legal rearrangement a the labor ministry said. Icings u there was no immediate reaction from the drug companies in Western Germany. Details of the negotiations Between Liim and the Union were not to be released until Friday. The unusual drug discount was mandated by the unification treaty Between East Germany and the Federal Republic. It was seen As one Way to help the Low paid East German s Over the economic Impact of joining a country with High drug prices in comparison with the heavily subsidized medicines in East Germany. The 55 percent discount was to be in effect through 1991. _ one company said it was delivering on schedule critical drugs such As heart medications. But the Industry took the general position that it w As not required to sell its products at a loss. The drug companies in Western Germany came under heavy criticism for their action. Quot to was said to affect about 20 percent of the Medicine sold in Eastern Germany