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A woman and her two children are thankful to be alive after her ex-boyfriend led police on a 125 mile-per-hour chase down the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
"He was saying, 'We're all dying together. We're all going to go to Heaven. Kiss the kids goodbye,'" said Ernestine Pearson, the suspect's former girlfriend.
Peason's ex-boyfriend, Kabril Keyes, was behind the wheel.
State Police said it all started when Keyes forced his way into Pearson's apartment near Wilkes-Barre Thursday afternoon, then kidnapped her and her two young kids at knife point .
A police chase spilled onto the Turnpike's Northeast Extension and spanned two counties.
Troopers said Keyes collided with several other cars, including a State Police cruiser, before violently crashing at Mile Marker 80 in Carbon County.
"Hitting cars, other cars," said Pearson. "My car is totalled."
Police believe Keyes intentionally tried to drive off the highway at 100 miles an hour -- with his ex and her kids still inside.
"The words he was saying was, 'We're all going to die together. Tell the kids goodbye,'" she said. "And he just tried to go off the road while we were all in the car."
Authorities called this a classic case of domestic violence. Keyes was actually out on bail after allegedly trying to set Pearson on fire last summer.
In this case, Keyes' own mother called 911. Barbarta Ann Keyes told state police that her son had "snapped," was holding a knife, and telling the victim to "tell me the truth."
"The things he was saying while he was in the house, telling his mom she should leave. She don't want to witness anything," said Pearson. "He's going to do life [in prison] or he's going to be dead too."
Pearson also obtained a protective order against Keyes on June 9, a few days after he pounded on the door and windows of her apartment with a hammer.
She said he knocked her down when she let him in, stomped on her leg and kicked her "in private areas." When she got up to call police, he roughed her up in front of the children, who were screaming and crying.
In that protection from abuse order, she said on previous occasions the defendant burned her arm with a heater and forced her out of the place where they were living.
On another occasion, she reported that he put a gun to her head when she asked for child support.
Keyes now faces 20 different criminal charges, including kidnapping and aggravated assault.
He is now in jail under $500,000 bond.
Are you one of the millions of people who made a New Years resolution to get fit in 2015?
The beginning of January is when people begin hitting the gym hard to work off all of those extra desserts eaten over the past few months.
" I would say everyone gets about about 20-30% more people in the gyms now," said Rodney Guignet, owner, of Hammer Training and Fitness in Allentown.
Garry Giordano, who works out at Hammer, has made it his mission to get fit in 2015.
"I want to lose a little bit of the belly," said Giordano.
Giordano vows to reach his goal by making a commitment to himself.
" Just keep on coming, just keep on coming," said Giordano.
If you are new to working out, Guignet suggests taking it slow. Try a few group classes, or try a few minutes of cardio at a time.
"People get frustrated and give up," said Guignet
He adds that it takes time to see results, many times, up to 3 months.
Cutting out the junk food is also essential.
"90% of what you achieve is your eating," said Guignet.
So make a commitment to yourself and bring in 2016 feeling healthier and better than ever before.
Friday night, loved ones prayed for answers after one of their own was run over by a tractor trailer and later died at the hospital.
"I just want to get down to what happened, I want to know the truth," said Malik Farley-Gray, the victim's cousin.
Authorities say Friday, shortly before 3 p.m., the victim, William E. Lucas, III, 53, approached the truck, and wedged himself between the cab and the rear wheels while the truck was waiting at the corner of W. Oley and Schuylkill Avenue in Reading.
Police say the truck driver was unaware that Lucas, from West Reading, was so close to the vehicle.
The driver also said he was about to turn onto Schuylkill Avenue when he felt something beneath his truck, according to police on the scene.
"I'm devastated. I'm hurt. Shocked," said Vivian Farley-Gray, the victim's aunt.
Just feet from the incident is April III's, a bar where Lucas was last seen before he was run over.
"Tomorrow's never promised to no one. A matter of minutes, a matter of seconds," said Lilian Rivera, who saw the victim just minutes before the incident.
It hasn't been an easy couple of years for victim's family. Just a few years ago they buried Lucus' mother.
The loss is especially tough for the victim's aunt.
"My sister's only child. I buried his mother five years ago. And now I got to do him. But God will heal us. He will heal us."
The cause and manner of death are still under investigation.
No criminals charges are expected to be filed against the driver.
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Police are looking for two teenage boys who they say went on a shooting spree tonight in Reading.
Police said the teens fired shots at three homes in the area of North 11th and Windsor streets.
It happened around 7:00 tonight.
No injuries were reported.
Witnesses told 69 News that the teens fled just seconds before police got there.
Police said the teens were wearing dark clothing with hoodies, and could be 15 or 16 years-old.
If you have any information, contact police.
Drivers are about to face a hike at the turnpike.
Come this Sunday, tolls in Pennsylvania will increase five percent, regardless of payment method.
The rate for E-ZPass drivers will jump from $1.04 to $1.09, while the rate for cash-paying customers will jump from $1.60 to $1.70.
"I'm not happy, nobody's happy about any increase," said driver Brendan Costello.
The increase marks the seventh in seven years, the result of a transportation-funding law that requires the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to make annual payments to PennDOT.
Since the law was enacted in 2007, the PTC has provided $4.3 billion for roads, bridges and transit assistance. Annual payments will continue in the millions until 2057.
"If we have to pay a little extra for a good road, so be it, it doesn't bother me," said Carol Hickman. "I don't want a great increase, and more money in my pocket is better, but I like to see a nice road to travel on."
Others, like John Walsh, disagree.
"I don't see that many road repairs…I mean, where's all the money going?" he said. "Everybody's unhappy."
According to Carl DeFabo, spokesman for the PTC, drivers should expect annual toll hikes for the "foreseeable future."
Drivers looking to save money are encouraged to use E-ZPass. While those rates are increasing equally this year, drivers who use the electronic toll collection system are expected to save roughly 35 percent in 2015.
Hilary Lane chose to revisit the story of James Tully, the man who says he has been misidentified as suspected cop killer Eric Frein more than a dozen times.
The Barrett Township man said he was constantly stopped by authorities during his 5 mile/2 hour walk to and from work through the heart of the Frein manhunt in Barrett Township.
In the middle of November, he was given the keys to a brand new car, after the community came together to make sure he traveled to and from work safely.
Through a campaign on a website called "Go Fund Me, 1,000 people collectively donated over $24,000 to help pay for Tully's car.
" I was just trying to do what I can do," said Tully. "I was working to pay my child support and I didn't expect any of this."
"He is a hard worker," said Dawn diBiase, who started the fundraising website. "He didn't ask for any money."
Tully purchased a 2007 Subaru Outback for a little under $10,000 at Halterman's Toyota.
The rest of the money will be put into an account to pay for gas and maintenance.
"He got the all-wheel drive, he was really looking for with the winters we have," said Matt Raymond of Halterman's Toyota.
"I am just so thankful to the community, said Tully. "This wouldn't be possible without them."
John and Tina Tedesco pleaded guilty to third degree murder Friday in Monroe County Court for the 2011 death of his 70-year-old aunt.
No sentencing date has been set yet.
Police report the couple was supposed to be taking care of Barbara Rabins, the sick woman, but robbed her of thousands of dollars and allowed her to die of dehydration.
The victim had lived with the Ross Township couple of 12 years.
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After three of his pigs were shot and killed, Todd Hedrick of Hedrick Family Farms and Produce in Lehigh County is trying to figure out how to cope with the damages.
"I was furious, I was hurt, and we were both up all night with tears in our eyes," Hedrick said.
Hedrick's three pigs were shot on Saturday night. Two were killed 150 feet off of his property. The third was so severely injured by a bullet wound, he had to be put down.
"Seeing the one crawl through the woods wounded, I'm a hunter I'm a trapper, I'm a fisherman, I'm a farmer but no, I was furious," Hedrick said.
The pigs wandered off of Hedrick's property after pushing their food tote on top of an electric fence.
"Once that is grounded out there is no current," Hedrick said. "They can walk right through it."
Police are still investigating who is responsible.
In the meantime, Todd is trying to cope with the loss. Each pig was set to bring in about $200 just days before Christmas. With only two survivors, Todd says the damages are more than $600 dollars.
"That was going to be our Christmas money," Hedrick said.
For many of Todd's customers, deposits for each pig have already been collected.
"I myself had a deposit down for a full pig," Hedrick Family Farm and Produce customer, Amy Dailey said. "What am I going to do for Christmas now?"
Hedrick says he will try to get enough money together to purchase a new heard before the holiday season.
As for the two remaining pigs, because they have been through so much already, Hedrick says he will let them live out their days on the farm.
High temperatures Friday afternoon reached into the low 40s under a mix of sun and clouds.
Now, as we move through the overnight, look for the clouds to increase as low temperatures fall into the low- and mid-20s.
The increase in clouds is the result of an approaching storm, which will push snow, sleet and rain into the area from southwest to northeast by midday.
The changeover to rain will occur rather quickly for most of the area during the afternoon, with a coating to an inch of snow at the onset possible from central Bucks and Montgomery counties on northward.
The Poconos could pick up and inch or two of snow and ice before a changeover to rain because that part of the area will start out colder and may not see all rain until Saturday evening.
The rain will be heavy at times late Saturday into early Sunday morning, with up to an inch or so of rain in many locations.
After the rain ends Sunday morning, skies will remain mostly cloudy, but high temperatures will reach the upper 50s.
From rock to ribs, a former Christian metal star is gearing up to open a barbecue franchise in Wyomissing.
"It's gonna be exciting!" said Frank Caloiaro, whose Dickey's Barbecue Pit, by the State Hill Road and Berkshire Boulevard intersection, will open to the public Thursday.
"This is a Texas, southern-style barbecue. We don't use grills here. Everything is slow cooked," he said.
Before his plans to shred meat, Caloiaro was shredding guitar strings as a member of "Messiah Prophet" back in the '80s, touring throughout the United States and Europe.
"I had the long hair and the spandex," he said. "When people tease me about the spandex, I look back on that and say 'How many people got to experience what I got to experience?'"
Now, those days are behind him, although he still performs in his Lancaster-based church's worship band.
Although his sights are now set on running the barbecue joint, Caloiaro hopes to bring his Christian values to the restaurant.
"That's what God put in me, and I just wanna help change other people's lives and be a part of the community."
As a new local restaurant owner, Caloiaro said he plans to help local organizations raise money and offer his food services to the hungry.
He further noted that all first responders will receive discounts when dining at the eatery.
"This is my mission field, this community," he said.
He's led the state for four years, but in just 18 days, Gov. Tom Corbett's term will be finished, so is Pennsylvania a better place, worse, or about the same?
Dealing with a looming budget deficit, raising taxes and being the first governor to lose a re-election bid since two terms were allowed will be part of the governor's legacy, but one political science professor said he feels education cuts were an issue Corbett couldn't bounce back from.
It's no secret that Corbett took over in Harrisburg during a time when the commonwealth was in the read.
"When Gov. Rendell left office, he did leave behind a significant fiscal problem for Gov. Corbett to deal with," said Chris Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown.
So Corbett had to find a way to balance the budget early, and it was education that ended up on the chopping block.
"Those decisions that concentrated significant reductions of education budgets in the state really did never resonate with Pennsylvanians," added Borick. "What happened is, it really set a tone of negativity among many Pennsylvanians for the Corbett administration."
Borick said Corbett did do positive things in the state. He said Corbett literally paved the way to smoother roads by helping to get a $2.3 billion transportation bill passed.
"It is raising some gas tax in the state," said Borick. "It's raised some fees, but many analysts in transportation policy would say the infrastructure absolutely needed that influx of revenue."
Borick said Corbett will get mixed reviews when it comes to fracking and job creation in the state, but the real Corbett legacy won't be known until years later.
"Was Gov. Corbett's failure to win re-election a sign of a new difficult period for governors to govern in Pennsylvania," added Borick. "Maybe we'll see similarities in the Wolf administration."
Borick said Gov.-elect Wolf will be dealing with the same budget problems as Corbett did four years ago, but it will be how the budget is handled that may set the two men apart.
The rules of the road have changed at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Reading.
It is all to protect the hundreds of pedestrians who cross the road every day, including visitors like the Lintz family.
In an effort to avoid the intersection at North Second and Washington streets, Shawn Lintz has started parking in the garage directly behind the movie theater.
"It is a busy intersection and I just do not like it. If I can avoid it, I do it," said Lintz.
As business has boomed over the years, so has the number of pedestrians trying to cross the road.
The high levels of pedestrian traffic are now causing some concern for city police and public works officials, so about a year ago, they started working with PennDOT to push back the no turn on red for drivers from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The director of public works told 69 News this is the first step in a new "complete street program" aimed at enhancing the streets to make them safer for pedestrians, bicycle riders and drivers.
The new signs have just been posted, and some already appreciate the change.
"Around rush hour particularly it gets a little hairy," said Darryl Brown, a pedestrian.
While others think it is misguided.
"You are causing more congestion by doing that, not allowing people to turn on red," said Dustin Carrell, a pedestrian.
"I would love it to be a little more people friendly because it is really a delay for people. One time we waited for almost five minutes to cross," said Catara Carrell, a pedestrian.
"I think if you use common sense you can pretty much get across the street," said Brown.
But city leaders said pedestrian safety trumps any congestion concerns drivers might have.
"Anything that can help slow people down and keep pedestrians safe is a good thing," said Officer Brenda Marks, Reading Police Department's traffic division.
The traffic light at Second and Penn streets has also been changed to no turn on red until 10 p.m. Monday-Friday for consistency sake.
