Briefly

New York

Singer Billy Joel in another car wreck

Singer Billy Joel was involved in his third car accident in two years Sunday when he slammed into a house on a wet road on Long Island. No one was seriously injured.

There was no evidence that alcohol or drugs were involved, and Joel was not suspected of any crime, said Nassau County Police Officer Joan Eames.

Joel suffered a small cut on a finger but refused medical attention, Eames said.

Joel was alone in the car, and no one in the house was injured, police said.

Last year Joel was hospitalized after smashing his car into a tree along a Long Island highway. No summonses were issued, and Joel was not given a Breathalyzer test.

Joel escaped serious injury in a crash in East Hampton in June 2002.

Iowa

Kerry criticizes firing over coffin photos

Democrat John Kerry on Sunday criticized the firing of two cargo workers who photographed flag-draped coffins of U.S. soldiers.

“I believe that keeping faith with those who served also requires us to understand the sacrifice they’re making and to honor it when they come home to the fullest measure,” the Massachusetts senator said during a Des Moines rally for his presidential campaign.

Defense contractor Maytag Aircraft Corp. fired a married couple after their photo of coffins inside a cargo plane appeared on the front page of The Seattle Times.

The Pentagon also announced last week that it would no longer release photographs of war dead arriving at the military mortuary in Dover.

“We shouldn’t hide that from America,” Kerry said to loud applause from his supporters. “If they are good enough to go and fight and die, they’re good enough to be received home with full honors in America.”