A Burlington County, New Jersey, man checked himself into the hospital Saturday after he claimed he was served raw chicken at a local Sonic restaurant.

William Dorsey of Lumberton, New Jersey told NBC10 he visited the Sonic restaurant on Route 38 in Hainesport, New Jersey Friday night and ordered chicken. As he began eating, Dorsey said he noticed something strange about the food.

“I noticed the chicken was really chewy,” Dorsey said. “When I looked at it closer I noticed the chicken wasn’t cooked at all.”

Dorsey said he began vomiting and tried several times to contact the Sonic restaurant as well as the corporate office.

The manager of the Sonic told NBC10 they were investigating Dorsey’s claim and planned on reimbursing him for the meal.

Dorsey meanwhile told NBC10 he checked himself into Virtua Memorial Hospital Saturday afternoon.

There are nine Sonic locations within the greater Philadelphia area and more than 3,500 locations in 44 states, according to the company's website.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

A San Diego couple whose child died under the care of a local doctor organized a protest Saturday outside a new birthing center owned by that same doctor.

Amber and Michael Lukacs rallied at the grand opening of the Babies by the Sea birthing center in Encinitas owned by Dr. Robert Biter.

Though the Lukacs and other protestors spread their message quietly and peacefully, with signs in hand, they insisted their message was a matter of life and death for pregnant women.

Their signs warned mothers-to-be to stay away from Babies by the Sea, which officially opened for business Saturday. It's an alternative to hospital-based labor and delivery, but protestors said the center's owner is a danger to women and their unborn babies.

Public documents confirm Biter surrendered his medical license last year without contesting allegations by the State Medical Board that his negligence and incompetence caused the death of an unborn baby.

State Medical Board records indicate Biter had previously been disciplined twice for problems with patient care.

“We're just trying to get it out there that people should look at the facts, look at these public documents and be informed before you back somebody with such a controversial past,” said Amber Lukacs.

But not everyone agreed with the protestors, including Patty Segovia-Krause, a satisfied patient and supporter of Biter's work.

"Doctors had told us we could never have children before. But we had heard about Dr. Biter so we came to see him and he was amazing. No ones ever taken the time to treat us like that," Segovia-Krause said.

Biter was inside the birthing center on Saturday. NBC 7 requested an interview, but he did not grant it.

He previously told NBC 7 Investigates that he will be an administrator only and have no role in patient care at the center. Biter said Babies by the Sea is a state-of-the-art birthing center with quality care for pregnant women.

Amber Lukcas, however, is not convinced.

"I think that even though he is legally not able to practice medicine and has no medical license, I don't feel like that would stop him," she said.

The Lukcases currently have a pending lawsuit against Biter.

Despite the protest, Segovia-Krause said she'll continue to support Biter and his new endeavor.

"There will always be haters. They'll be influenced by their spouses or other people, and they're just followers. They'll go along,” Segovia-Krause said. “You know, easier to hate, I guess, to be hating, than [to be] lovers. Not for me."

The President and CEO of the Cooper University Health System and his wife were killed in a house fire Sunday morning.

Officials with Cooper Health announced the deaths of John Sheridan Jr. and his wife Joyce Sheridan. Firefighters were called to their home on 49 Meadow Run Drive in the Skillman section of Montgomery Township, New Jersey shortly before 6:15 a.m. Sunday. The fire was contained to an upstairs bedroom where firefighters found the couple unresponsive.

Sheridan Jr., 72, was pronounced dead at the scene. Joyce Sheridan, 69, was taken to the hospital where she died a short time later. Autopsies will be performed to determine what caused their deaths. Officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

Sheridan Jr. was named the Senior Executive Vice President of Cooper in July 2005. He then became Chief Administrative Officer in March of 2007 and President of Cooper University Hospital in September 2007. He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cooper Health System in February 2008.

Sheridan Jr. is credited with helping to transform the entire health care system. A list of his accomplishments include the construction and expansion of the Roberts Pavilion as well as the creation of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, the first new medical school in South Jersey in over three decades.

"Perhaps his greatest contribution to the larger Cooper community was his commitment to helping revitalize Camden," said a spokeswoman for Cooper Health in a released statement. "There was never a day that went by when he wasn't focused on what Cooper could do to help revitalize a city that he loved and that should be the defining hallmark of his tenure at Cooper." 

Camden Mayor Dana Redd called their deaths "shocking and saddening" in a released statement.

"They will both be profoundly missed by the entire Camden community," Redd wrote. "I have personally known John Sheridan since 2001.  We worked closely as Cooper enhanced their campus and during the early planning stages of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.  John’s leadership and friendship is a loss for so many including myself.  On behalf of the City of Camden and our residents, I send our deepest condolence.  Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with his colleagues and family."

Senator Donald Nordcross also shared his condolences.

"John represented the very best of South Jersey," Norcross wrote in a released statement. "As the CEO of Cooper Hospital, he was a fierce advocate for health care and the City of Camden. Just last week, he was discussing his vision to improve the quality of life for city residents. We all have been dealt a serious blow.”

Prior to his time at Cooper, Sheridan was a senior partner and Co-Chairman of the law firm Riker, Danzig, Riker. He also served as General Counsel to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and was on the Board of Trustees of the Carrier Clinic, a not-for-profit psychiatric hospital in Belle Mead, New Jersey.

He graduated St. Peter’s College and received his law degree from Rutgers Law School. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. .

“It is hard to overstate how great a loss John’s death is to his family, friends, co-workers and Cooper,” said George E. Norcross III, the chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cooper Health.  “He was a friend, a mentor and a role model. There is no one else who has had as big an impact on me as John did except my father. I will miss him very much.”
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

LA County Sheriff’s Department officials have begun a pilot program testing out body cameras in the field, they announced this week.

The Lancaster, Temple, Carson and Century stations are using four prototypes of the cameras, some of which are attached to sunglasses or chest-mounted, over the next six months.

A total of 96 cameras have been distributed among volunteers at the stations, who plan to evaluate them on a weekly basis.

Lt. Chris Marks said the cameras will help add transparency for the public to see how the officers operate out on the streets. They are useful for audio recording even when video may be unclear, he added.

“Especially in rapidly evolving situations, you can immediately capture what’s going on,” Marks said.

While the officers are not required to tell people they interact with that they’re videotaping, officers said the cameras have already proved effective, including one “irate” woman who calmed down when realizing she was on camera.

In a Police Foundation study published in March 2013, a Cambridge University professor of experimental criminology researched the effects of body cameras on police use of force at the Rialto Police Department in San Bernardino County.

The study found a 50 percent reduction in total incidents involving use of force compared to control conditions, as well as a dramatic decline of citizen complaints.

But one difficulty will be sorting through the many hours of footage the cameras capture.

“We’re talking hundreds of thousands of hours of video,” said Chief Bobby Denham, project manager. “I think that’s going to be the biggest challenge.”

And the systems cost about $600 each. Right now, there’s no way to pay for the 2,000 the department would hope to order, Denham said.

People can express their thoughts on the use of body-worn cameras by taking the department's online survey here.

A 26-year-old man was killed after being struck by two cars on State Route 94, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The unidentified man was walking on eastbound SR-94 west of Interstate 15 around 4 a.m. Sunday. That’s when he was hit by one vehicle and then a second vehicle, the ME said. Neither driver stopped to help.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating.
 

Two men and a teenage boy have been arrested in connection with an anti-gay attack in Brooklyn that left a 22-year-old man with a gunshot wound, authorities said.

According to police, the victim was dressed as a woman and walking down the street with two other men in Bushwick Saturday morning, when the three suspects approached them and began making anti-gay comments.

A dispute ensued and one of the men shot the victim in the buttocks.

Tavon Johnson, 17, and Cody Sigue, 22 were charged with third degree menacing as a hate crime. Matthew Smith, 21, was charged with first degree assault and was also charged in a separate shooting Friday night.

The victim was treated at a nearby hospital and released.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

Three people were injured Saturday night at Six Flags America during the first night of the theme park’s annual Fright Fest celebration.

A spokesperson for the park, Havilah Ross, said a guest was injured during an altercation in the parking lot. There is no word on the condition of the person.

However, the Prince George’s County Fire Department reported three teens injured with two of them requiring transportation to the hospital. Spokesman Mark Brady said all the injuries were considered non-life-threatening.

Prince George’s County police said they were called in to handle a large crowd leaving the park around 9 p.m. A spokesperson said there were significant pedestrian and vehicular traffic causing the backup.

Despite social media reports about a larger incident at the park, Ross said, “Reports of a massive fight or other serious injuries are completely inaccurate. The safety of our guests is our top priority.”

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

A skydiving instructor and a student are dead after a skydiving accident on Cape Cod, officials confirm.

Police in Barnstable, Massachusetts, found the victims next to a garage at 885 Race Lane in the Barnstable village of Marston Mills, across the street from Cape Cod Airfield.

"It appears they did hit the garage," said Barnstable Police Sgt. Ben Baxter. "The Mass. State Police will be investigating, along with our detective division."

The two male victims jumped in tandem, attached together. They were both transported by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

A Boston MedFlight helicopter had been asked to stand by in case either patient needed to be taken to a trauma center.

Officials are working to determine what went wrong. There is a skydiving school at Cape Cod Airfield, but it is not yet known whether the victims were from there.

NECN will have more as this story develops.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

With antlers and four legs, a deer was the last visitor an Encino homeowner was expecting to  find swimming in their backyard pool on Saturday.

However, the deer was not actually looking to cool down.

It appeared as though the deer accidentally fell in after getting trapped in the pool cover, the homeowner said.

The deer eventually made its way out of the pool, and was successfully captured by California Fish and Wildlife.

The deer was expected to be released back into the wild.

UPDATE: The victim died from her injuries early Sunday morning. New details here.

Police rushed a woman to the hospital after she was shot in the forehead and the leg while walking her dog near Philadelphia's Fairmount Park Saturday night.

The gunman shot the 42-year-old victim around 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of Morse and North 33rd streets in the Strawberry Mansion section of the city, authorities said.

The woman's daughter found her mother, who had been heading to a corner store when the shooting occurred, according to investigators.

Officers transported the woman to Hahnemann University Hospital, where she is listed in extremely critical condition.

Police said they have not made any arrests and are unsure of a motive. 

The suspect was wearing a hoodie and ran from the scene, according to investigators, who added they are searching for a heavyset man with a gray beard.

Stay with NBC10 for more on this developing story.

A 22-year-old Chula Vista man died in a hit-and-run crash early Sunday morning in Encinitas.

The man was driving north on Interstate 5 around 2:50 a.m. when his car overturned north of Encinitas Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The man’s sedan was overturned in the middle of the freeway when a truck crashed into him. Then, a third car driven by a 30-year-old woman crashed into them. The truck fled the scene, according to CHP.

The 22-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released. He was wearing a seat belt, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

The woman was taken to Scripps La Jolla with minor injuries.

CHP investigators are now searching for the driver who first crashed into the victim and fled. He’s described as a Caucasian man in his 30s with a bald head, mustache and tattoos. He’s about 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds. He was driving a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. CHP officials believe he may live in Murrieta or Anaheim.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call the Oceanside CHP at (760) 757-1675 or (858) 637-3800.
 

A quick-thinking nursing student rushed to aid three people trapped in an upside down SUV Sunday in Little Italy.

The crash happened around noon at A Street and India Street. A gold SUV and a yellow taxi were involved.

Nursing student Megan McCann ran two blocks and saw the SUV on its roof in the middle of the intersection.

“All the patients were still in the car. I just wanted to make sure everyone was OK and breathing, and everyone was,” McCann said.

Other witnesses also jumped in to help until emergency crews arrived. The three adults in the SUV were hanging upside-down by their seat belts.

“I let them know help is coming, and I just assured them they’re going to be OK,” McCann said. She said she tried to push their bodies up to relieve pressure from the seat belts.

Two people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to fire officials. The taxi sustained major front end damage. It is unclear what caused the accident.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

Philip Rivers picked apart yet another defense and the Chargers cruised to their third straight victory, 33-14 over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday.

The Chargers quarterback threw for 29 of 40 for 377 yards and xx touchdowns. It's his 24th straight game with a TD, breaking a franchise record he set in 2010.

Malcolm Floyd caught a pair of touchdowns -- both in the first half -- for the second straight game.

Keenan Allen had 10 receptions for 135 yards, setting single-game career highs for each.

Things started slow for the Chargers, favored by 13 points coming in. Blake Bortles hit Nic Jacobs for a 2-yard score midway through the second quarter to give the Jags a 14-10 lead.

But the Bolts (3-1) bounced back late in the second quarter on Royal's second touchdown, a 43-yard strike that put the Chargers up by 3 at the half.

They added to that on a nine-play drive to start the second half, culminating in a nice 24-yard TD reception by Malcolm Floyd.

Nick Novak added a pair of field goals to pad the lead to 30-14.
 

A heavy piece of equipment fell on top of a Lakeside man Sunday, killing him instantly, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The victim and another man were digging a hole for a pipe around 10 a.m. in the 12000 block of Wildcat Canyon Road. That’s when the other man, who was driving the tractor, tried to make a turn and started to tip. The victim tried to keep the tractor from falling, but he was crushed instead, according to the sheriff’s department.

Officials have not released the victim's name, but say he is a 61-year-old man who lives in the area.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating.
 

More than 500 people turned out Sunday night for a candle light vigil on the North Central Texas College campus to remember four young women from the college who were killed in a bus accident Friday night.

Katelynn Woodlee, 18, Meagan Richardson, 19, Jaiden Pelton, 20, and Brooke Deckard, 20, were members of the softball team and all grew up in North Texas towns.

Investigators said a big rig that slammed into their bus never slowed down. The wreck happened Friday night on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma as their team was returning to campus from a scrimmage.

At the vigil, there were prayers for those who died and the survivors of the accident.

“It was just so traumatizing,” said teammate Kaylea Armstrong. “Because that's, like, something I've never seen before. Something that none of us have ever seen before.”

The thought that her four teammates were killed seemed more like a nightmare than reality.  

“We all saw them putting that white cover over Jaiden,” said Armstrong. “You're just, like, that's not real.”

While the community pauses to remember, Armstrong says she will never forget.

“All those girls deserve to be remembered,” said Armstrong. “They were amazing people.”

Deckard's home of Blue Ridge was decorated with blue and black ribbons in her memory. She graduated from Blue Ridge High School in 2013 before playing softball for North Central Texas College.

"She's about 5 foot, but really she's about 10 foot as a softball player," Blue Ridge High School softball coach Jeffrey Williams said. "She had the heart of a lion and the heart of a champion."

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, which is conducting the criminal investigation, said Sunday that the truck driver, Russell Staley, 53, of Saginaw, Texas, told investigators he was distracted.

Staley was driving for Quickway Carriers of Nashville, Tenn.

Late Sunday the company released this statement:

"We want to offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of Meagan, Brooke, Katelynn and Jaiden, and the rest of the North Central Texas College community. We are also praying for a full recovery for the ladies that remain in the hospital. Trusting in God's grace, we hope to one day join the college in properly memorializing these ladies lives, and their legacy. We will continue to fully cooperate with Oklahoma State Patrol, the National Transportation Safety Board, and other authorities in their investigation of this tragedy. We give thanks for the continued improvement of Bailey Buchanan and Rachel Hitt and will continue to pray for their full recovery."
-- William P. Prevost President & CEO 

Two people suspected of setting a series of seven fires throughout Alameda in a span of about three hours have been arrested, public safety officials said Sunday morning. And now, investigators are looking at the possibility that five fires set on Friday in Oakland might be related.

Alameda police on Monday released the names and photos of Andrew Gutierrez, a 22-year-old transient, and Stephen Michael Petersen, 27, of Alameda. Both are expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

"It's fortunate we were able to locate them at the scene," Alameda Police Lt. Jill Ottaviano said Monday. "Usually, it's very difficult to catch people setting fires. But in this case, we got a little luck on our side."

Still, no evidence has been released explaining why police believe the two set the fires.

Though authorities said the fires were intentionally set, a motive for the blazes has not been revealed. No injuries were reported. Police estimated the total damage of the fires to be about $3 million.

The pair was arrested in connection with the eight fires set in different locations during a roughly three-hour period early Sunday morning. The fires damaged or destroyed five businesses on Park Street and displaced four families from their homes, according to Alameda Fire Chief Michael D'Orazi.

One of those fires ripped through Angela's Restaurant, which the owners bought in June and hoped to open next month - something that won't happen now. Another fire threatened Jim's Coffee Shop. Tom Geanekos witnessed the chaos.

"It was incredibly scary," he said. "There were so many firetrucks ...they did an incredible job."

• The first of the fires was reported at 12:56 a.m. to the 1300 block of Regent Street to a dumpster fire.

• Then, at 1:11 a.m., firefighters responded to the 500 block of Willow Street to a report of a smell of smoke. Firefighters were unable to locate the source of the smell.

• At 1:39 a.m., firefighters responded to the 1100 block of Regent Street to a house fire. Firefighters knocked down the blaze at 2:02 a.m. The fire caused damage to the rear of the house, including one room and the attic, according to fire officials. Fire officials put this fire at $100,000.

• Fire crews were dispatched again at 2:22 a.m. to the 2200 block of San Antonio Avenue to a residential and vehicle fire that spread to a neighboring home.That fire heavily damaged one home and caused minor damage to a neighboring residence. Firefighters extinguished the blaze at 3:14 a.m. and estimated the damage to be at $300,000.

• Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire at 2:34 a.m. Firefighters said that fire was possibly an extension from the San Antonio Avenue fire.

• At 3:29 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to the 200 block of Encinal Avenue to a garbage can fire.

• About 40 minutes later, firefighters responded to a three-alarm fire in the 1600 block of Park Street. Firefighters said this fire involved five businesses and multiple vehicles. The total for this fire was estimated at $2.6 million.

• Crews responded to an eighth arson fire at 4:39 a.m. in a garbage container in the 1500 block of Park Street.

Bay City News and NBC Bay Area contributed to this report.

Geno Smith completely lost his cool — and maybe a bit of his grip on the Jets' starting quarterback job.

Frustrated after a third straight loss and calls for his backup increasing, Smith was caught by a TV camera yelling an expletive at a heckler in the stands as he walked off the MetLife Stadium field following a 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

"Before we start this off, first of all I want to apologize if any kids saw me saying any negative remarks walking off the field," Smith said to open his postgame news conference. "I kind of let my temper get the best of me in that situation, and it's a part of my learning process."

Smith had two more turnovers as chants of "We Want Vick!" echoed throughout the stadium at times, perhaps none louder than after he was intercepted by Darius Slay in the fourth quarter.

"That stuff, to me, is B.S.," wide receiver Eric Decker said of the chants.

Asked what he thought when he heard the calls for Vick, defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson was blunt.

"Shut up," Richardson said. "If that's the case, produce a child who can come and make it to the NFL and let's see what he's got. Other than that, just shut up."

Vick didn't get into this one, and coach Rex Ryan confirmed that Smith will start again for the Jets (1-3) next Sunday at San Diego despite his struggles.

"No, I'm not going to replace him," Ryan said. "I feel good about Geno. I think he will get it turned (around). He's a tough, resilient young man. I think we're going to win. We'll win soon."

Smith was 17 of 33 for 209 yards, including an 11-yard TD pass to Decker, but threw an interception and lost a fumble — giving him seven turnovers in four games.

That's what has many fans frustrated, tired of the mistakes being made by the second-year quarterback.

"He's got to keep his composure, no matter how frustrated he gets," Richardson said. "But it happens."

Despite the skid and the struggles, the Jets players insist they still believe in Smith as the starting quarterback.

"One hundred percent, yeah," Decker said. "It's hard to see him take, really, all the criticism. It's not just him. Everyone is doing this together. ... We've got to make some plays for him, take some pressure off him."

Matthew Stafford got the Lions up and down the field — even without Calvin Johnson being much of a factor.

Stafford threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the Lions overcame Johnson being limited by an ankle injury. Jeremy Ross and Eric Ebron caught scoring passes for the Lions, who are off to a 3-1 start for the second straight season. Stafford finished 24 of 34 for 293 yards, and appeared unfazed by his top receiver being in and out of the game.

Johnson was clearly impeded by his injured ankle, which had him questionable for the game. He had just two catches for 12 yards, but Golden Tate picked up for him, catching eight passes for 116 yards.

"We knew Calvin was going to be limited today and we were hoping to not have to use him unless it was an emergency," wide receiver Golden Tate said. "I think we responded well."

The Jets, who made it close on Chris Johnson's 35-yard run with 6:58 left, fell to 1-3 for the first time in Ryan's six seasons as coach.

New York stayed in it by scoring on its first possession of the second half, an 11-yard touchdown from Smith to Decker midway through the third quarter that made it 17-10.

But the Lions reclaimed control on Stafford's 1-yard run for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Detroit a 24-10 lead. Stafford's run — upheld by video review — capped a 14-play, 90-yard scoring drive.

"We have the ability," Decker said. "It's about executing the plays. Period."

NOTES: On New York's next possession after Slay's interception, former Jets safety James Ihedigbo had a strip sack of Smith on New York's next possession. The fumble was recovered by Darryl Tapp. ... Jets WR David Nelson (left ankle) and S Calvin Pryor (thigh) left and didn't return. CB Antonio Allen also had a significant limp after the game. Lions RB Joique Bell was being evaluated for a head injury, while running back Theo Riddick and fullback Montell Owens left with hamstring injuries. Neither coach had any updates.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

A Carnival cruise ship passenger died after falling off a ship docked at PortMiami Monday morning.

The 20-year-old man was on the Carnival Ecstasy when he climbed the forward mast and fell from the height of two decks at Terminal E, Miami-Dade Police officials said.

He was rushed to a Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition but later died, officials said. His identity wasn't released.

"Earlier this morning as the Carnival Ecstasy was approaching PortMiami, a 20-year-old male guest entered a restricted area and climbed up onto the ship’s forward mast. He subsequently fell and landed on the deck. He was initially treated by the ship’s medical team and later transferred to a local trauma center in Miami. Unfortunately, he has passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time," Carnival said in a statement.

Police are investigating the incident but said no foul play is suspected.

Check back with NBC 6 South Florida and NBC6.com for updates.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego