Ex-astronaut charged in deaths

Former NASA astronaut James Halsell Jr. was charged with murder in the June 6 vehicular accident deaths of two female pre-teens east of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Halsell, who lives in Huntsville, was on his way to pick up his son in West Monroe, La. He crashed a rental car into the rear of a second vehicle occupied by the victims, and their father. (Source: NBC New York 06/06/16) Halsell completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., in 1979. He became an astronaut in July 1991. A five flight veteran, Halsell logged more than 1,250 hours in space.