north and for some reason the suv jumped the divider in to oncoming traffic slamming in to that honda which was driven by a 37-year-old woman from freehold. both drivers were killed, including a third person, a 62-year-old man. we spoke to some shop owners who heard that crash. >> i saw a car, one was on this side. one was a beige car. one was an suv. i saw somebody pulling them out of the car and put them in the stretcher. >> i heard the big boom. we rushed to the outside. >> traffic was backed up for five hours. at this point they're trying to determine what was it that caused the suv driver to jump

right now we have no answers as far as that's concerned. for now we're live here, toni yates, channel 7 eyewitness news. the funeral of a new jersey state trooper or campaign for donald trump? governor christie is responding to critics who say he should have gone to the funeral instead of trumping for stump. christie is insisting he decided earlier his lieutenant governor would be at the funeral and the governor is rejecting calls for his resignation because of his trump endorsement. lucy yang is in linden with the story. >> governor christie came here today to highlight jobs growth but really he spent most of his time insisting he's not ignoring his state duties while traveling for donald trump. >> i can do more than one thing at one time. >> reporter: that was governor chris christie this afternoon, defending his ability to run new jersey while hitting the campaign trail for donald trump. >> i'm never out of touch with folks.

which things do you need to be appearing at? which things can you have other people in the administration cover? and which events are really important? >> reporter: even if he can multitask, one thing christie cannot do, be at two places at the same time. yesterday was the funeral for the trooper sean cullen. christie's absence there but presence at trump rallies infuriated critics, noting this is the third funeral he's missed since december. indicating the decision is predicated on selfish political opportunism. governor christie said he had never been planning to attend, that it had already been scheduled for his lieutenant governor to go to the funeral before trump called him. >> he called sunday and i think when they made the decision to add ohio to the trip, he really wanted me to come to ohio with him so i went for the whole day. >> yesterday was probably the straw that broke the camel's

to where his priorities are. we have a lot of problems in new jersey and i think the focus shouldn't be on donald trump. >> to be clear, governor christie is insisting he will finish out his final 21 months despite some editorials calling for him to step down. live in linden, new jersey tonight, lucy yang for channel 7 eyewitness news. now to vote 2016. they're calling it another mini super tuesday. five states holding primaries tonight. the biggest, ohio and florida. by this time tomorrow night will the field of republican presidential candidates be cut in half? governor john kasich in a neck and neck battle with mr. trump. if kasich does not win ohio, his candidacy might be over. kasich blastic trump for his comments about women.

>> a commercial, i guess it was last night, of these comments that were made about women. i have two daughters. they see this stuff. what do you think they think? >> meanwhile in florida senator marco rubio feeling the pressure tonight. he needs a win in his home state of florida to even stay in this race. ohio and florida are winner take all states in tonight's primaries. as for the democrats, bernie sanders pulls out a victory in ohio and illinois or even comes close, it could make the clinton campaign a whole lot more sluggish, adding to worries among democrats that clinton doesn't do well in states where blue collar workers have been especially hard hit. many democrats voting republican in ohio today trying to stop trump. clinton too blasting trump tonight. >> i think it is important that we really do focus on the very dangerous path that donald trump has laid out here. the kind of bluster and bigotry

exemplifying on the campaign trail is disturbing. >> we invite you to stay with eyewitness news. we'll be posting results on social media and on our website, abc7ny. we'll also be streaming abc's coverage on our website and of course complete wrap-up on eyewitness news tonight at 11:00. back here in our area, a final goodbye to a promising young athlete who was shot and killed in duchess county. funeral services were held for 18-year-old keval haylette. someone fired in to the group. he was not the intended target. he was fielding offers from some division 2 schools. >> very caring person. family oriented. athletic. his character speaks for himself. >> schools were closed in poughkeepsie today so students could attend the services.

suspect in the shooting. new at 6:00, so just how bad is morale at the nypd? if you believe that new survey by the police union, it's so bad, most officers want to leave. but there are many other fascinating insights about the policing in the survey, like 70% want to wear body cams and two out of three cops say they like nothing about mayor de blasio. n.j. burkett is in times square tonight with much more on the survey. >> that's right. this survey screams that no, the nypd rank and file does not like mayor de blasio. what is surprising is that they're blaming him for setting the tone in the city. a tone they say is making their jobs harder and more dangerous. >> reporter: new york city police officers are on edge tonight. less inclined to act and more concerned for their own safety than ever before. that according to a survey of thousands of officers,

>> what we're saying is city hall, this is how our members feel and it's real. >> reporter: in the survey 97% blame the mayor for creating an environment where criminals feel embouldined to carry guns and use them. 96% said suspects are more likely to resist arrest. and 95% said they feel less safe while on duty. >> when you have new york city police officers saying they personally feel less safe and it's almost unanimous, that's a scary thought. >> reporter: union leaders say it's no surprise that officers are more reluctant to act for fear of lawsuits and complaints. that new guidelines on stop, question, and frisk limit their effectiveness. and 70% now approve of body cameras. >> it's already happened a number of times where the public said the cops have done something and we've gone to the videotape. i think this is a bonus for the cops more so than the public. >> reporter: justice professor

police commissioner, had a 2/3rds approval rating. live tonight in times square, n.j. burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. the door to cuba opening wider tonight. the obama administration further easing u.s. sanctions. many say it's a likely precursor to the president calling on congress to do away entirely with the embargo. it eliminates a ban to cuban access to the banking system. also allows them to earn salaries in the u.s. while turning the current ban in to an

president set to arrive in havana sunday. taking a quick look at wall street where it was a mixed day for stocks. dow gained 22. nasdaq lost 21 and s&p 500 was down more than 3 points. as we continue with eyewitness news at 6:00 for this tuesday night, he had a bb gun and he was looking to inflict damage, and boy, did he. more than a dozen cars in need of windows and a local police department looking to make an arrest before the shooter strikes again. >> before you take your dog with you to dine alfresco, best to find out if the restaurant is going to ban your pet. new rules for dog owners and dining outdoors. >> lee has a dog like that. >> that was a very handsome cavalier. not as handsome as mine but very handsome cavalier. we have partial sunshine. sun is strong this time of year. we have a late day high of 56. feels good as we head in to the evening hours.

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stop & shop's exclusive nature's promise. eat well for less. my stop & shop. a car window shattering spree on long island. >> at least 15 parked cars blasted by someone with the bb gun. surveillance cameras caught a glimpse of the car that police are now searching for. a white suv. >> all this happening at four nassau county communities, now the search for the shooter. here's stacey sager. >> it's a mess.

this in stride when they woke up for work. but the truth is -- >> i'm angry. >> reporter: because pieces of shattered windows are everywhere. and it was raining inside their cars. >> i came out here, there was glass all over the place, everybody is bagging up their stuff. kind of just -- >> one of those days. >> reporter: but police are hoping new surveillance video jogs someone's memory. it captures an older model white suv, likely a chevy suburban. look closely. you can even see someone on the passenger side aiming a bb gun out the window. investigators suspect it's the same person who struck at least 15 of these cars and two storefronts overnight on sunday. not just here but also in wantagh, east merrick. there was more than $10,000 in property damage but for volunteer firefighter georgio, it was literally insult to injury. georgio works hard to protect

he also just hurt his back. and now this. >> 270 members of this department come out to save people's lives, to help them and their property, and you come and ruin my property. that really bothers me the most. >> reporter: police are most bothered by the threat of injury from someone with a bb gun. >> if you're walking around and that pellet hits you in the wrong spot of your body, yes, it could cause -- to damage your eye. it's going to hurt. >> reporter: they're urging anyone else with information that may help solve the case to call crimestoppers. stacey sager, channel 7 eyewitness news. pet owners in new york city will now be able to lap up their lunches at outdoor eateries and have their pooch right there to clean their plate. kinda. the new dining with dogs rule stipulate restaurants must post a sign to alert customers that dogs must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. restaurants must use barriers to limit contact between dogs and

>> because everyone is going have their little medical tags with them for the dogs. >> that's what they're hoping. just ahead, dinosaurs among us. we get a sneak peek at the newest exhibit at the natural history museum. it's about to open there. >> and the sun. it's shining again.

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it's one of the amazing little nuggets of dinosaur science. birds are related to the extinct dinosaurs. museum's newest exhibit examines that. it compares them to the dinosaurs. a pigeon related to t rex? exhibit will be open from march 21st to january 2nd. >> you're making raptor noises. you weren't just clearing your

>> that was a pigeon noise. or a raptor. >> dinosaurs, raptors. apparently it's a pigeon. >> look at pigeons differently around the city now. >> like a dinosaur. >> exactly. so nice the sun came out for a little bit of an hour. >> you carried it through 4:00 and 5:00. we have a beautiful sunset to show you. rather gray all day but we promised the late day brightening. nice late sunset of 7:03 helped. clouds going all different directions and different layers leaving us and there we are. 56 degrees right now. 62% humidity. we'll post that time lapse on facebook. the high today now up to 56. save the best for last. should be a nice evening. record high 77. we're 7 degrees above average. 60 in reach tomorrow or better. really the next three days, watch out for a couple afternoon showers. friday is cooler than the next two days. wednesday and thursday will be in the low 60s. above average temperatures then

weekend. that could set the stage for spring, cold rain or even wet snow later sunday in to early monday. 60 blairstown right now. unusual to see highs there. 57 in teterboro. 57 in newark. we cleared out earlier in the northwest suburbs. 54 in belmar. we were 60 in poughkeepsie earlier. clouds and sun during the early evening hours. partly cloudy skies overall. patchy fog overnight. partly to mostly cloudy to start the day. there will be patchy fog. the sun should come out at times during the middle of the day before the clouds thicken again. starting to lose some of the clouds over monmouth and middlesex and ocean counties. low pressure is moving away. we'll at least see partial clearing overnight as this lakes builds in. then this low right here, actually tornado watches through parts of the midwest. this is going to curl in to the lakes and it's going to swing a

a -- it's going to swing a band of rain. make sure you have your umbrella for the evening commute. if we get enough sun, low and middle 60s definitely within reach during the afternoon hours. late day showers begin to move in toward the evening commute, then leave us after midnight. early st. patrick's day looks okay. clouds are gathering in the day. pretty nice day tomorrow. occasional sun but watch out for the afternoon and evening shower. then partial clearing again late. on st. patrick's day, looking at 62 degrees. and i think we should be in really good shape. pollen count tomorrow should still be on the moderate side. that planner as we go in to your st. patrick's day parade, high of 62. friday, afternoon shower. cooler temperatures are coming in. only in the 40s over the weekend. sun on saturday. if a coastal storm is close enough, rain and wet snow in the area. can get pretty messy for the monday morning commute. temperatures above freezing.

still early to call but does look a little threatening. we've got the half marathon to worry about on sunday. >> we're coming after that. >> dancing starts tonight. local schools all set to get the tournament started. we'll check in with some of the other basketball teams ready to jump on the tournament trail today.

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college basketball begins for real now. got your bracket all filled out? >> i have your bracket. all tipped off in about 20 minutes. the ncaa basketball tournament opening tonight, a couple first four games.

first schools to get everything started. knights play florida gulf coast for the rights to move on. north carolina. dickinson won the tournament, one of the youngest teams in the country. 96% of their scoring came from sophomores and freshmen. here they are. >> we were picked ninth out of 10 teams in the northeast conference. last year we lost 15 straight games and won our last game so this team has come from the depths of college basketball to the elite. >> the gaels take their championship to denver for a first round match-up thursday against iowa state. back in the tournament for the first time in three years. a thrilling conference title win. a school record six straight 20-win seasons. the gaels hope to be a tough out now in the tournament. >> it's the best. it's the best if you're a coach and you love your players, nothing better than to give them this reward. >> it's a lifetime experience. definitely an experience you'll remember for the rest of your

i'm excited to go out there and compete now heading to des moines today, the sea wolves from stony book won the american east tournament. now take off for the big dance. check out the send-off. the kentucky wildcats waiting. why not jump right in. that game tips thursday. in florida yankees-red sox just underway in fort meyers. a lot of the regulars have made the trip including alex rodriguez. mets played the marlins this afternoon in jupiter. noah syndergaard pitching. gave up five hits, couple runs. struck out three. mets playing from behind. travis d'arnaud. mets have the bases loaded. d'arnaud brings everybody home with a bases clearing double. the mets win this afternoon. the the mets have now placed ruben tejada on waivers. his time coming to an end if

tejada is finally healthy after having his leg broken in the playoffs on this play and now he's available. so ugly every time. there's football news. pretty big news for giant fans. jason pierre paul back in the fold getting ready to play. missed time last year after the july 4th fireworks accident mangled his hand. pierre paul has had another surgery since the season ended all in an effort to improve the hand's function and grip. he's recovering from that surgery. said he's doing well. didn't say what he expects other than not having to play with the big club cover ing his hand. that's a step forward. >> i'm just excited i get the chance to play football. do what i love to do. come back to new york and play one year and show the fans and show everybody that jason pierre paul can play some ball. finally from us, let's head to the pacific palisades bantam

jeffrey hits at the buzzer. sends the game to overtime. a once-in-a-lifetime moment until overtime. still tied. 2 seconds to go. it's jack again. yeah. blue devils win it 38-35. isn't that great? >> those were 8-year-olds? >> 8-year-olds from pacific palisades. >> they're really good. let's check in with what we're working on for eyewitness news at 11:00. here's sade baderinwa. >> a big night on the road to the white house. we'll be keeping on top of the results. abc news will have updates throughout the evening and late reaction at 11:00. also, new concerns about the power of prescription pain killers and why doctors may not be prescribing them as often in the future. we'll have those stories and more coming up tonight on eyewitness news at 11:00. >> that's it for us. thanks for watching. i'm bill ritter. >> world news tonight is coming up next.

breaking news tonight. the exit polls coming in right now. what the voters are revealing already. will donald trump essentially seal the deal? >> this is the place i want to win. this is the place. >> his rivals looking to stop him tonight. all eyes on john kasich and his home state of ohio. and hillary clinton. can she finally put it away? or, another sanders tonight? clinton tells us she's optimistic. >> but not confident? that's a word a lot of your supporters might want to hear you say. >> okay, i'm confident. >> our team standing by on it all. also tonight, the severe weather hitting right now in several of the states voting. now images of the tornadoes in ohio. where the storms track next. and dangerous driving for millions in the east. the alleged uber gunman. the murder spree and the new video here tonight. breaking news for the millions of americans prescribed painkillers. major new guidelines tonight. why the cdc is so concerned. and your money.