finally tonight, the race for new hampshire and the stakes couldn't be higher in the republican contest. donald trump will be front and center for their final debate moderated by our own david muir and martha raddatz. giving us a sneak peek tonight. >> hey, good evening. the excitement is mounting here at st. anselm college in manchester, new hampshire, as our abc news crew is putting the finishing touches on our debate stage. top three candidates -- donald trump, ted cruz, marco rubio -- will be taking center stage here tomorrow night and if there's one thing we can count on it's some heated exchanges. all the candidates are gunning

just ahead of the crucial new hampshire primary on tuesday. everybody wants to make their mark, survive this debate, and move forward. but it may be the last chance for some. >> thank you, martha. martha and david muir will moderate that debate tomorrow night at 8:00 eastern, 7:00 central time, right here on abc. it was former president george h.w. bush who said, if anyone tells you america's best days are behind her, they're looking the wrong way. thank you for watching abc news. tune into "good morning america" tomorrow. as always we're online on our "nightline" facebook page and

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now, new york's number one news. an 8th grader brewinged and beaten after he -- brewinged -- bruised and beaten after trying to do the right thing. the story new at republican. the deadly crane collapse in manhattan. crews on the scene cleaning up. roads are closed. the investigation just getting started. and we have two reports tonight, a.j. ross and josh einiger are in tribeca. we're going to begin with josh overlooking the crash site. >> reporter: we're about 6 or 7 stories up over the site, and you can see the devastating scene. the most impressive thing is how much worse this could have been if the crane had gone in any direction other than east on werth street. new tonight, we can tell you that the crane operator has tested negative for alcohol, but it's still unclear what

the mangled and twisted wreckage still sits tonight where it landed morning rush displayed out across two blocks of werth street, where the 300 tons toppled, slowly at first, and bounced off buildings as it picked up speed. >> he's moving fast now. dropping it really quick. >> reporter: down below pedestrians scrambled for cover as the monstrous train obliterated everything in the path. >> you knew what it was that was coming down. >> turn back and run like no tomorrow. >> reporter: onlookers rushed to help the 73-year-old man trapped this this crushed jeep. he survived as did a 45-year- old woman but a 38-year-old pedestrian named david wichs couldn't get out of the way in time. >> this is a very sad incident. we have lost a life.

i did and see what happened, thank god it was not >> reporter: the crew had been securing against increasing winds when it toppled. it plunged through the roof of a nearby new york law school and swung like a pendulum through the building winding up on someone's desk. >> it bent from a office, through a wall, into the other office. >> reporter: officials marveled the casualty count was higher. they credited the crane workers for blocking the street at just the right time, and saving countless commuters from certain death. david wichs never stood a chance. >> that person came to this street not knowing this was going to be his last moments on earth. >> reporter: and back live, you're looking now at the cab of the crane, and you have to sort of orient yourself. the two tracks are on either side. those are the tracks that the crane usually rides on top of. that cab is completely upside down and you can see the devastate on werth street.

owns the piece of equipment. they have had no comment today. the crime scene of the nypd investigating, but they do not believe there is criminality at play. we're live in tribeca over the crash site, josh einiger channel 7 eyewitness news. josh, thank you. tonight, roads in the area of the collapse site are closed and it will likely stay that way over the next few days, certainly because we are hearing that the plan is to start dismantling the crane tomorrow. they are going to be emptying the hydraulic fuel. werth street is closed from church street to hudson. you can expect added disruptions in the area from canal to chambers and hudson to broadway. how quickly life can change. how quickly it can add. 38-year-old david wichs left his home in upper manhattan, maybe a fun weekend ahead, by

wichs leaves behind a grieving wife and grieving parents. a.j. ross has the story of the victims in this horrific accident. >> reporter: i'm on west broadway and thomas street. this is another vantage personal injury of what's left of the massive crane -- vantage massive crane. quick. >> reporter: in mere seconds several lives were forever changed as this giant crane collapsed in try becca friday. david wichs was heading to work at an investment firm a few blocks away. a loving husband and harvard grad, friends poured in at his upper west side home as they learned of the news. thomas o'brien was inside his car when the train came crashing down on top of him.

you can see him here this in tmz video trapped inside the driver's seat. a massachusetts native, spoke with a family friend about the tragedy. >> i don't know the extent of his injuries. but the fact that he had to go to the hospital, they're significant. he needed stitches, i know that. >> reporter: also injured, dawn cojima, was hit by falling debris and suffered a leg injury but is expected to make a full recovery. back here live, this is of course a sad story that could have been a lot worse had the crane crew not been directing people away from the area before the crash. we'll be bringing you the latest developments as this investigation continues. life tonight in tribeca, i'm a.j. ross channel 7 eyewitness news. thank you. well, out of the tragedy tonight, love blooms, a bride and groom separated on their wedding day and brought back together by a stranger.

when the crane collapsed. she had no choice but to trudge through the snow wearing nothing but her wedding gown. that is until an fdny chaplain offered her a coat. >> while the chaplain was walking me over in the snow and slush and these heels, i go wait, a chaplain, you can marry people, and she goes, yeah, i can, and i go will you marry us. >> chaplain and cansfield helped navigate the six blocks to city hall and officiated the ceremony: eyewitness news was first on this morning when the crane collapsed. count on us all weekend on tv and online as we learn more about the investigation and the clean up. new at eleven a police officer for the mta tonight under arrest charged with beating up an 8th grader. this happened at a school in the bronx. turns out the victim was trying to break up another fight.

>> reporter: 36-year-old ruben carabia turned himself into police. the off duty mta police officer was arrested and charged with assault for what allegedly happened outside of this school. 13-year-old justin harris claims he was not only attacked by a classmate but the student's dad and mta police officer allegedly joined in. the 8th grader said it started after he tried to defend another student from the alleged bully here at bronx mathematics prep school. >> he punched me really hard, and went on top of my son, hitting him in the head, and he said to his son to draw blood. >> reporter: under the advice of their lawyer, sanford reuben reubendesign, justin did not make a statement. >> he had lacerations on his arms, some scratches on his back where he punched him there

>> what the family wants is for this port authority police officer to be held accountable for what he did. >> reporter: police officers at the suspect's home in the sound view section o. bronx said family -- of the bronx said family members refused to talk to us when we went searching for the other side of the story. >> we think this is something he's teaching to his son. what does he expect his son to grow p and do. >> reporter: he worked at the queens midtown tunnel. he has been with the agency since 2005. he is on active duty, but allowed to carry a firearm while this investigation continues. report live in the castle hill section, carolina leid channel 7 eyewitness news. carolina, thank you. new details tonight about a suspect wanted in a string of frightening robberies on the subway that ended with two victims slashed. police released a surveillance video of a man they're looking for. they believe he's responsible for at least four robberies since late last month.

during two of the crimes, a suspect cut a subway passenger with a razor or knife. murder charges dropped against a man falsely accused of a brutal stabbing several years ago. the bronx da announcing all charges against javier anger will be dropped, accused of stabbing and killing ansel arias arias. : one of the two new york city police officers shot in the bronx is back home tonight. patrick was released from lincoln hospital today surrounded by hundreds of his fellow officers. he was shot in the cheek last night. his partner, 24-year-old diara cruz was hit in the torso. he remains in the hospital. they were attacked by a gunman who later killed himself. the snow is now out of our area tonight, but it made quite a mess in some parts of the tristate. slamming into a tanning salon

dozens of accidents reported suffolk and nassau counties. mostly fenders benders. lee goldberg says we are not done yet with the snow. >> we are tonight as that storm is about 500 miles away to our north and east. we still have lingering approximate, tree limbs coming down with the heavy snow, refreezing icy roads and still watching falling snow and ice. we're going to look into the snowy 7 day, and we're going to look if we're stuck in the snowy pattern for the rest of the winter. that's coming up in accuweather. a violent attack on a local street corner. tonight, the search for the kids behind us.

a man sucker punched on a street in new jersey. it's called the knock out game. this dangerous and potentially deadly trend has police on high alert. this video appearing on facebook showing someone throwing a punch and apparently knocking out a victim on the

video disturbing and thanked residents who reported it. bill? a terrorist bomb in a laptop computer, now considered the likely cause of explosion that blew the hole in the size of a passenger plane in somalia. preliminary test results showing residue from explosives, showing more evidence that a bomb tore through. one passenger was sucked out of the plane. no terror group has claimed responsibility for the blast. a kissing ban over concerns about the zika virus possibly spreading through saliva. health officials in brazil telling pregnant woman to avoid regular partner. they found live samples of the virus in saliva. the announcement coming at a time with carnival, where kissing is a top pass time. a resident who recently traveled to a south american

came back sick with the virus. the woman is expected to error. they are -- to recover. they are searching the rubble in taiwan, for survivors of an earthquake. more than 220 people have been rescued so far. at least five have been killed. the quake was felt in taipei. no major damage in the capitol city. four days until the presidential primaries in new hampshire. the candidates aren't letting a snowstorm stop their stomping. hillary clinton braved the storm stick to go a full slate bernie sanders campaigned though he's preparing to appear on saturday night live, along with larry david who does a spot on impression of the presidential hopeful. most of the candidates are in new hampshire and preparing for an abc news debate tomorrow donald trump canceled his

he sent supporters trudging door to door through the snow. trump was a no show at the last republican debate. he's expected to make it tomorrow night. the republican debate tomorrow here on channel 7 and on the watch abc app. it begins at 8:00 with local reporter dave evans heading to new hampshire. you can watch his live reports on the primary beginning monday on eyewitness news. there was a lot of grumpy chatter on twitter tonight about dinner or the lack of it. seamless, the popular food delivery service had technical problems, and hungry people were none too happy. humans used to have to hunt for their food and i'm about to die of starvation. another tweet, i just realized i may have to put on my shoes and then there's this, prayers for everyone suffering, seamless being down on a friday night. there's no word from seamless tonight on exactly what happened. >> i feel your pain. >> you, too. huh.

what do we have here. >> i want to remember my talking points for the winter forecast, which will come up after the 7-day. we'll see if we're stuck in the snowy pattern. last night at this time, you know, we look forward to rain changing over to snow. maybe not look forward but boy did it happen. look at the empire state building. broncos on the north and south side, panthers east west, good visibility again. we are cold. 33. at least the wind has backed off and managed to recover to 40 degrees. 8 inches, scarsdale 4 inches. oakwood heights station. staten island 3 inches, 3 inches in central park. ridgewood, new jersey, about 3 1/3. wayne new jersey at about 2 inches. easton, connecticut, 9 inches. norwalk a little over 7. and sandy hook coming in at 4 inches. so now we've dropped to the 20s on long island and connecticut,

there are going to be icing conditions overnight, and be careful there, and temperatures will warm during the day. we're dropping below freezing area wide. be a lot of sunshine tomorrow, much less wind will feel great during the afternoon hours. we will have some of the melting. watch out. clumps of heavy wet snow dropping off. there's our 12 hours of loop with the storm. it's gone, and the farther the storm gets away, the winds get lighter lighter and we have a two day reprieve in the wintry pattern. things get interesting next week. this storm over the northwest, this piece of energy in oklahoma and texas which dives into the gulf. this will go offshore as a sizable storm, missing us for the most part, and this one will be our supply of cold air into next week. so you look at our forecast for tomorrow morning we're in the cold. slick spots on the road. patchy cloudiness coming in during the afternoon and temperatures recovering in the low 40s. sunny and cold, light winds,

sunny to partly cloudy, but it's nice. sunset 5:19. slick spots again tomorrow night at 32. here's the way the 7-day accuweather forecast goes. 48 on super bowl sunday. no problem there. i think we could have some light snow on monday. that's the edge of the big storm that's offshore, so light snows are a possibility. even light accumulations especially east, but that one for the most part misses us, and this piece that's coming in for tuesday may link up a little bit. be some light snow. i think we could have prolonged off and on snow that could be anytime from midday monday lasting through tuesday and even snow showers on wednesday. in that time, we could put down a few inches, i don't think it's all at once or one big storm. we'll be watching that over the weekend. it's remaining cold, blustery next week, a week's time, thursday into friday, may be a more consolidated storm. it's a situation where we're in a shooting gallery here. we have a lot of storms and cold air available. that's what the next seven days

>> we know you have been writing on the notebook. i think 7-day is a long range, but you have even longer. >> the el nino obviously is the major driver of this h. that's what we're looking at. that's the warming of the waters until the pacific, and that alters our storm track. it's followed the script this year. we started with a mild start, november, december, into early january, and now all of a sudden it's getting colder. we're hitting prime time where you have the active storm track. you also have more cold air available. it's a sweet spot for timing for snowfall. and that's why going forward here's what i'm calling for, i think the best chance of seeing snow and coastal storms is the next ten days, the sweet spot overnet. as we -- of winter. as we get into the third week, we don't have the coldest air. maybe we favor inland. late february into early march, one more signal that we have one more cold shot, and we have big chances of snow in march, if the follows the script of

the season. so we may try to find a way to avoid the storms together. next week is stormy. >> i'm going to cross my fingers. >> very fascinating forecast. coming up next we're going to tell you what's missing from your m&ms candy, and popular other candy as well.

in tonight's health alert, one of the largest candy producers is removing artificial colors from its products. mars the company behind m&ms and snickers says it's making the move to meet evolving human preferences. the dyes are not banned by the fda but there is concern that some dyes trigger hyperactivity in children. a problem nearly as ubiquitous as the iphone itself, now the cracked screen could get you a discount. companies likely to drum up new phone sales. the company predicts a year over year decline in shipment. bring on the cracked iphone screens. >> i do have a small crack. >> which could be a large one, compared to your last one. >> rob powers up next with supports. what could the knicks do against the grizzlies at home. straight ahead, we'll show you.

somebody else, who was it, and was it enough?

the knicks had a happy new year and since then it hasn't been so happy. two games in two night, and two nights, two knicks out of the lineup, carmelo anthony, and lance thomas has concussion symptoms. lost 7 of 8 over all. the star players on the bench, what could they do. jose calderon scored. knicks were down. zingus scored 17 points. but the knicks were right there. 8 seconds to go, down to. aaron for the tie. green finishes with free throws the knicks lose 91-85. that's four straight losses. the nets back at home against the kings, been a struggle but tonight was different. brook lopez has 26 points, 12 rebounds, but here's the story of the game, joe johnson, 27

he hit five 3-points. forget about that losing streak, how about a total of 18 3-pointers and a win. 128-119. they do for two in a row. tomorrow in philadelphia. let's get to the super bowl, the broncos, panthers, finally kick off sunday. both teams still getting ready. so is everybody else. lady gaga rehearsing the national anthem. meanwhile roger goodell gave his annual state of the league address. the giant's odell beckham jr. in the carolina game, three unnecessary roughness calls. call the o'dell rule. >> i believe that the league should pursue a policy where if there are two personal fouls in a game, there's an automatic ejection to the player. >> also today the finalists for the walter peyton nfl men of the year, ben watson, antwon bolden and the giants eli manning for excellent on and