BOSTON

Woman, son nearly miss train’s electrified third rail

Quick-thinking Boston-area commuters are being praised for rescuing a woman who tumbled off a subway platform and onto the tracks with her 4-year-old son in her arms.

Meera Thakrar of Attleboro said she thought the train on the outbound platform at the MIT/Kendall Square station in Cambridge was at her platform. She said she didn’t even think as she walked off the precipice and crumpled to the ground, narrowly missing the electrified third rail.

Several commuters immediately jumped down to the tracks while others offered their hands to pull the 37-year-old woman and her son to safety.

They were taken to the hospital as a precaution for minor injuries.

One of the rescuers, who identified himself only as Kris, told the Boston Herald he just acted on instinct.

DEDHAM, Mass.

Judge stays trial of mom for killing daughter, fetus

A Chinese immigrant charged in the deaths of her 9-year-old daughter and unborn son in Massachusetts has been found incompetent to stand trial.

Fang Chi-Xue has been hospitalized for physical injuries and psychological evaluation since being found unresponsive and bleeding from a slashed wrist in her Quincy apartment in April 2009. Her daughter was found dead in bed beside her.

Prosecutors said she stabbed herself in the abdomen, killing her unborn baby. Fang was eight months pregnant at the time and faces a manslaughter charge in that death. She faces a murder charge in her daughter’s death.

A Norfolk Superior Court judge heard testimony Friday from a clinician at Worcester State Hospital, where Fang is committed. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said the judge stayed the case pending Fang regaining competency.

PLYMOUTH, Mass.

Two women face charges after 162 animals found

A Plymouth woman and her daughter-in-law are facing animal cruelty charges after authorities say they found a “menagerie” of 162 animals at their home deplorable conditions.

Seventy-seven-year-old Evelyn Luciano and 23-year-old Kelley Fahey were released without bail after their arraignment Wednesday on multiple counts of animal cruelty. They pleaded not guilty.

Authorities were alerted to the situation by neighbors who complained of the noise and offensive odors from the home in June.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston removed 162 animals including dogs, goats, turkeys, rabbits, chickens, ducks, pheasants, quails, a calf and a young ram.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Court ruling means vote on allowing table games

A decision by the Rhode Island Supreme Court means voters will be asked in November whether they want to allow expanded gambling at the state’s two slot parlors.

The court on Thursday said it would not accelerate an appeal by the Narragansett Indian Tribe. That appeal challenged a lower court’s decision that the let the question on the ballot.

The measure asks voters whether they want to allow table games at Twin River in Lincoln and at Newport Grand.

DUMMERSTON, Vt.

Covered bridge reopens earlier than expected

A covered bridge in Dummerston, Vt., that underwent repairs has reopened earlier than expected

The Brattleboro Reformer reported that contractors have fixed an erosion problem after several delays and the bridge reopened Tuesday.

The 140-year-old bridge is structurally sound. The project involved repairs to the span’s “wing walls,” described as support walls for approaches.

 

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