Dance troupe from Jacksonville shuts down the Lincoln Tunnel

[subro]

From today's NY Post...

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/delayed_dancers_hoof_it_in_tunnel_tAWiSyaGpHvsePdHbZMVbM

By PHILIP MESSING

Last Updated: 6:17 AM, November 19, 2010

Posted: 3:32 AM, November 19, 2010

A camouflage-clad Florida dance troupe desperate to make it to a live TV talent show set off a rush-hour terror scare when they ditched their cars in merciless Lincoln Tunnel traffic and tried to sprint through the tube.

The FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force was called in -- and a massive contingent of heavily armed cops surrounded the harmless performers, who stood teary-eyed in their showy costumes as hundreds of angry drivers were stuck in the snarl.

"They drew their guns on us at first," said Landon Burse, 24, the group's executive director who arranged the appearance on BET's "106 & Park" segment "Wild on Wednesday."

"It was terrifying. I was crying," said Eternity Odom, 16, one of the four girls who perform in the group.

The tunnel was closed for 45 minutes before cops realized the eight-member team was headed to the studio on West 57th Street. They eventually offered them a police escort to make the show.

But it was too late -- the hard-headed producers of the live talent show told them not to bother, sending them in a trail of tears back down the New Jersey Turnpike.

The group, called "Club Envy," had set out from Jacksonville about 24 hours earlier with stardust in their eyes as they hit I-95 for the 1,158 mile trip north -- a trip for which they spent three months holding local fundraisers.

The first 23½ hours went off without a hitch, but the trip hit a traffic snarl at the tunnel's New Jersey helix around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

That's when seven performers and a manager leapt from the two-vehicle convoy and attempted to hoof it for the last five miles.

Alarmed Port Authority cops saw the youths in costumes -- including unfortunate camouflage-colored shorts and vests -- and immediately called the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Among them were Burse and three young men who perform in the group -- Ronnie Killing Jr., 20; Dontel Jabal Madison, 18; Darius Hutchins, 19.

In addition to Odom, three other 16-year-old girls also began sprinting toward Manhattan -- Adaya Foster, Kenya Clark and Courtney King.

They made it all the way to the Manhattan side -- and could actually see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel -- when cops stepped in and detained them.

They were able to explain the group's predicament to a Port Authority lieutenant, who tried to help them.

"The lieutenant called the guy at BET and told him, 'Hey, I can clear the traffic to get these kids there quickly,' but the guy from BET said, 'It's past 6 p.m. and we don't need them now,' " Burse said.

Pat Charles, a writer for the BET show, insisted they "didn't get a call from the cops until they were already supposed to be off the air."

"Unfortunately, the group could not participate in last night's show," added BET spokeswoman Marcy Polanco.

She said the station was willing to reschedule another appearance for the performers.

Odom said she learned a valuable lesson.

"There are a lot of fumes in that tunnel, and we could have passed out or gotten hit by a car," she said. "The next time we come here, we'll stay in our cars."

Additional reporting by John Doyle

[simms3]

I almost cried reading this myself.  Hopefully it becomes a national story enough where 106 & Park has mercy on this troupe's poor soul and pays for them to come back up...train next time   Kind of a funny story, though

[thelakelander]

Words of advice for the troupe.  Next time, park in Jersey and take the train in.  You'll bypass all that congestion.

[subro]

I feel bad for them but a group of people in camouflage cannot go running through NYC tunnels and not expect there to be a problem…

[reednavy]

dumbasses

[Coolyfett]

From today's NY Post...

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/delayed_dancers_hoof_it_in_tunnel_tAWiSyaGpHvsePdHbZMVbM

By PHILIP MESSING

Last Updated: 6:17 AM, November 19, 2010

Posted: 3:32 AM, November 19, 2010

A camouflage-clad Florida dance troupe desperate to make it to a live TV talent show set off a rush-hour terror scare when they ditched their cars in merciless Lincoln Tunnel traffic and tried to sprint through the tube.

The FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force was called in -- and a massive contingent of heavily armed cops surrounded the harmless performers, who stood teary-eyed in their showy costumes as hundreds of angry drivers were stuck in the snarl.

"They drew their guns on us at first," said Landon Burse, 24, the group's executive director who arranged the appearance on BET's "106 & Park" segment "Wild on Wednesday."

"It was terrifying. I was crying," said Eternity Odom, 16, one of the four girls who perform in the group.

The tunnel was closed for 45 minutes before cops realized the eight-member team was headed to the studio on West 57th Street. They eventually offered them a police escort to make the show.

But it was too late -- the hard-headed producers of the live talent show told them not to bother, sending them in a trail of tears back down the New Jersey Turnpike.

The group, called "Club Envy," had set out from Jacksonville about 24 hours earlier with stardust in their eyes as they hit I-95 for the 1,158 mile trip north -- a trip for which they spent three months holding local fundraisers.

The first 23½ hours went off without a hitch, but the trip hit a traffic snarl at the tunnel's New Jersey helix around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

That's when seven performers and a manager leapt from the two-vehicle convoy and attempted to hoof it for the last five miles.

Alarmed Port Authority cops saw the youths in costumes -- including unfortunate camouflage-colored shorts and vests -- and immediately called the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Among them were Burse and three young men who perform in the group -- Ronnie Killing Jr., 20; Dontel Jabal Madison, 18; Darius Hutchins, 19.

In addition to Odom, three other 16-year-old girls also began sprinting toward Manhattan -- Adaya Foster, Kenya Clark and Courtney King.

They made it all the way to the Manhattan side -- and could actually see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel -- when cops stepped in and detained them.

They were able to explain the group's predicament to a Port Authority lieutenant, who tried to help them.

"The lieutenant called the guy at BET and told him, 'Hey, I can clear the traffic to get these kids there quickly,' but the guy from BET said, 'It's past 6 p.m. and we don't need them now,' " Burse said.

Pat Charles, a writer for the BET show, insisted they "didn't get a call from the cops until they were already supposed to be off the air."

"Unfortunately, the group could not participate in last night's show," added BET spokeswoman Marcy Polanco.

She said the station was willing to reschedule another appearance for the performers.

Odom said she learned a valuable lesson.

"There are a lot of fumes in that tunnel, and we could have passed out or gotten hit by a car," she said. "The next time we come here, we'll stay in our cars."

Additional reporting by John Doyle

Welcome to New York City!!! I do feel bad for the dance crew, would have been great for them to represent Duval....BUT they were late in NEW YORK CITY.....there is no mercy in that place & they should have known better. They shoul have been camped out two days out front the studio. But they do come from a city that is superior at doing everything at the last minute. I dont blame the producer for being an a$shole. Its New York City thats the way of life up there.

[Coolyfett]

I almost cried reading this myself.  Hopefully it becomes a national story enough where 106 & Park has mercy on this troupe's poor soul and pays for them to come back up...train next time   Kind of a funny story, though

The Train........two word that might have saved their day. Thats a lot of gas money not to perform.

[Coolyfett]

dumbasses

What makes these kids DUMBASSES? them chasing their dream? Being from Jax? or being late? Its not against the law to wear camo fatigues.

Just saying lol.

[uptowngirl]

Shows how small town Jacksonville is.... I do hope they get another shot though.

[SecularHumanist]

A terrible thing to have happened, and all too easy to judge in hindsight that (obviously) driving into the city is always a bad idea.   

Everyone knows you park outside and take the express train right in.    Aside from the fact it is cheaper, faster, and more reliable, it is also quite exhilarating to arrive at Grand Central Terminal when it is your first visit to the city.

Live and learn.   I hope they get another chance from a kind hearted producer in New York.

As for the so-called 'merciless' nature of New York, I'm not sure I buy into any of that.  Anyone who has broken down on Route 95 here in lovely Jacksonville already knows what kind of 'mercy' to expect from the other drivers.   Anyone who has been physically assaulted while riding a bike along the quiet streets of Riverside knows how merciful our drivers can be.

[Dog Walker]

New Yorkers are like big city people all over the world, busy and abrupt.  Ask for help, directions and they could not be more helpful.  Same with Parisians, Londoners, etc.  Just don't ask for directions in Rome, it starts arguments on street corners as everybody has a better route and everybody pitches in.

[reednavy]

dumbasses

What makes these kids DUMBASSES? them chasing their dream? Being from Jax? or being late? Its not against the law to wear camo fatigues.

Just saying lol.

Hmm, let's see. Ditching cars in the Lincoln Tunnel causing gridlock, running through the tunnel, wearing camo when running in NYC of all places. I understand chasing your dreams and such, but a completely stupid ass way to do it, IMO.

[ProjectMaximus]

dumbasses

What makes these kids DUMBASSES? them chasing their dream? Being from Jax? or being late? Its not against the law to wear camo fatigues.

Just saying lol.

Hmm, let's see. Ditching cars in the Lincoln Tunnel causing gridlock, running through the tunnel, wearing camo when running in NYC of all places. I understand chasing your dreams and such, but a completely stupid ass way to do it, IMO.

They didn't completely ditch their cars. According to the TU story on this, the drivers remained...

Just saying, cause THAT would've been really stupid.

[Coolyfett]

There are many other dance competitions they can entere, hopefully this situation pushes them to work harder at getting where they wanna be.

[tufsu1]

so the whole thing about abandoned cars and gridlock was made up?

no...but it sounds like the passengers got out...not the drivers