>> we begin with breaking news at 4:30. the latest on the run away red line train that left brain tree station this morning with passengers on board but no driver. the scary scene played out this morning. >> the train left brain tree early this morning with passengers on board and travelled for more than six miles without a driver until crews could stop it and bring it into to the jfk station. officials believe the accident was caused by operator error. multiple investigations have been launched. >> we can tell that you the focus now is on that operator error. we know, according to sources, the operator is david vasquez. they talked about what happened during the investigation.

able to start the train so he was cleared to undertake a by-pass which basically means the control center will send a signal to the train to make it move without the operator having to press anything. but he got off the train and that's when it took off without him. there were 50 passengers on board at the time. and we're told that it was only about a nine-minute ride and then everybody was able to get off safely. >> the t saying "we failed our passengers today." they're launching major investigations. the focus is the two brakes that they put on there. some passengers reported seeing ties or something around there. she said that's part of their investigation. once again the press conference wrapping up and we'll continue to monitor the situation. remember, we're staying on top of this and all breaking news on-line and on air. check whdh.com and the mobile apps. we'll post new details on facebook and twitder.

in the dan hearse teacher-murder trial. accused of raping and killing his trail. >> the trial inching closer to being in the hands of jury. david cooper joins us. >> reporter: this has been a trial that's gone on for so many weeks and been filled with twists and turns, and now yet another twist that followed some turns today. >> this issue got raised at a point, really, well into the trial. >> reporter: the judge wrestling with an 11th hour request from lawyers representing accused killer flip chisholm. >> this would be evidence that

mental illness. >> reporter: the lawyers claiming he was insane when he murdered his math teach ner october of 2013. >> the consensus is you don't use scans for diagnosis, period. >> reporter: meanwhile the judge who already listened to a doctor without the jury present early ner the trial, an expert witness on brain scan has this reactions to the conclusions a few weeks ago. >> the problem with the doctor si don't believe him. i just don't believe him. >> reporter: late in the day the judge denies that last-minute motion, only to learn chisholm's lead attorney had come down with a stomach bug forcing another delay in the trial. >> there is a human cost to every delay in this case and that is all i will say. for once i'm listening to voits inside my head that tells me not to say everything i'm thinking. >> reporter: the hope at this point is that closing arguments instead of tomorrow will now

then this case would go to the jury. but in the words of one court official here late this afternoon stay tuned. we're live in salem, steve cooper, 7 news. >> an exploasive scene in a vermont neighborhood. the bomb squad rushed to an apartment complex after police say a bomb exploded there. crews evacuated the building. one man's wife heard the blast and had no clue what happened. >> she was substantialing on the porch here and heard a large explosion, a bang of some sort. she actually felt it. >> it was pretty crazy. and there were a lot of people didn't know what was going on. >> reporter: hurt. they're not saying if anyone has been arrested. an 18-wheeler carrying chemicals explodes on a alabama highway. look at that. irch within half mile of that truck had to evacuate. the driver got out of the truck and called 9-1-1. nobody was hurt.

california freeway. police were in hot pursuit of a car traveling close to 100 miles per hour. thick fog made the chase difficult for police. the driver eventually got out of his car and police then arrested him. it's a hot item on christmas lists. at one mall a little too high. a hover board burst into flames at a washington mall tuesday. the tie tech gadget exploded and got fire. mall employees put out the flames. fire official dz believe the batter -- officials believe the battery overheat. >> and a nontraditional scene in ohio will stay put. it depicts the holy family as blood thirsty monsters. after a public dispute between the home owner and town leaders the troardzal decorations are staying up. -- controversial decorations are staying up. >> reporter: when kathy and kara brought their families out it look at a display it was not

that's because the nativity display may seem more christmas. there's joseph and mary and even the babe ji jesus as zombies. it's neat. >> reporter: how come? >> it's differ. >> reporter: the nativity has been getting global publicity after the township threatened to fine him. mad. >> reporter: with you but the township said the undead were irrelevant. structure. >> reporter: many people including kathy and karen a ciewmed the township was upset as the holy family as flesh eating monsters >> he didn't do it to make gestures about anybody's religion. >> reporter: the township received profane e-mails. one said i hope you guys get coal. this is what the display looked like before. >> when you have a structures that 15 foot tall and 100 square feet, the zoning code says you can't have that.

fines up to $500 a day by the display. he eventually made it smaller by removing the top piece. this holiday horror will continue to delight or scare those who stop by. he was threatened with fines for the same display last year. >> a buzzer beater at a minnesota high school basketball game. check it out. down by two with less than two seconds left in the conference title games a player rebounds a missed free throw and heaves the ball full court to win the game. he hits nothing but net. here it goes. look at that. what a shot. >> impressive. ahead here on anybody, next stop the north pole. a group of kids from new york got a free trip to see santa. how one airline helped children take flight >> and trouble on the tracks. a red line speeds down the tracks with no operator. conference. we'll have the latest on the

it's the holidays. and of course, everyone wants to get online at once. to watch things. buy things. but slow internet makes it hard. that's why it's time to get fios. it has the fastest internet and wifi available. with speeds from 50 to 500 megs. and right now, you'll get 50 meg fios internet, tv and phone for 79.99 a month online for your first year. and with a 2 year agreement, movie channels for a year. plus, 400 dollars back. so go online or call now. get out of the past. get fios. terror attack in paris. terror here at home. it's time for a tested who won't try to contain isis. jeb bush has a plan... to destroy them. and keep america safe. jeb bush: the united states should not delay in leading a global coalition to take out isis with overwhelming force. announcer: tested and proven leadership matters. jeb bush. right to rise usa is responsible for the content

>> a group of new york air kids got a trip to the north pole to see santa claus. well, they didn't really go to the north pole, but don't tell them that. their adventure was part of the fantasy flight program. >> airline employees took children who are fighting deadly disease on a pretend visit here it was something. have you to see this. take a look. a trip of a lifetime. pairnlt and kids got their boarding passes and passports heading north. united airlines employee volunteers hosted a fantasy flight to the north pole for hospitals. >> my son has leukemia. this is a wonderful, wonderful the children. >> last year he spent christmas in the hospital. his dad says he's doing better now. can you see it in his smile.

>> many of the children inviefted -- invited are living with a serious illness or in recovery. >> she has sickle cell disease. so the organization is very kind and exciting. >> my question is i want -- i want to be good and i want to be -- i want to be happy forever. >> reporter: with windows open they took off. after an hour in the air. >> it looked like we were really at the north pole. >> i see santa claus, batman. >> san it was there to greet the children. he says they all made the nice list. >> coupling up on 7news, lending a helping hand. how a boy in kentucky is experiencing life in a whole new way. >> there must be on mother nature's nice list because we had trps -- temperatures close to 60

don't look for much to change. >> back on the field today. will he play this weekend? we have a preview coming up >> and following breaking news this afternoon. officials say a red line train left the brib braintree -- braintree station this morning with no driver. we'll have the latest on the

>> all right. more than a week until the force takes over theatres nationwide. >> "star wars" man yeah is in full effect. fans beyond eager to see "the force awakens" moviegoers lining

installment. tense setup in front of hollywood's chinese theatre. >> this movie is going to be amazing. can't wait to watch it. even though we may freeze, we're still no matter how many days will pass. it's, like, we're just here. >> those hollywood die-hard fan wills see the film next thursday. ""star wars"" fans nationwide will get to see the movie on december 18th. >> already outside. i liked his line sabre trick. if both him and pete aren't at work i think we know where to find him. >> camming out these days, the qeaght has been work out. we've had a lot of mild air in place. temperatures close to 60 just southwest of the city a couple of hours ago. seeing sunshine out there

obviously the sun is now setting and we're beginning to see more clouds filter in from the west. overall tonight partly to mostly cloudy skies. could have patches of low clouds redevelop but expecting it to stay dry. low clouds break ag part if we have them. and that will offer another mixture of sun and clouds through the afternoon. if you miss dz out on the mild weather today you had a shot of it tomorrow and a few more on the seven-day forecast ahead. because the mild pattern will continue. lower to middle 40s overnight tonight. that's not too tough to take this time of year. the average high is 44 . the low will be close to the average high. look at this tomorrow. bounce back temperature-wise. mixture of sun and clouds in the afternoon. couple of degrees either side of 60 . across the country the only cold air minneapolis at 40 . that's not all that cold. north dakota at 32 . the weather for us coming in out of the southwest over the next couple of days.

. the one question mark setup. there will be an area of high pressure banked to the northwest of us and strong enough to nose in a back door cold front shore. if that happens on the northern side of this front here in the upper 40s to near 50 . the southern end of that front, just south of the front, you're close to 60 if not above it. there may be a big range in temperatures as we go through sunday afternoon. thinking from boston north and east, the best chance of staying on the cooler side on sunday keep in mind these temperatures still above average. even if we're stuck in the upper 40s to near 50 on sunday. the best chance of getting close to 60 on sunday is across southern western county. what is going on in the pacific northwest? a monday ter storm set to crash on shore with heavy rains they lower elevations and a lot of snow from the cascades down to the sierras. why am i watching this?

tra verse the country. dip down ib -- into texas. this storm system will then move into the great lakes. we're on the wearm side of it so this is all rain. especially monday afternoon into monday night. that would be the highest opportunity of getting some widespread rain in here on the next several days and then another opportunity of rain on thursday. but the bottom line is we remain in a mild pattern with temperatures consistently in the 50s if not close to 60 a couple of days in the seven-day forecast, guys. >> thank you, chris. later on today let's get a check on the ride home. >> reporter: yeah, ryan first off along route 128 northbound and associate and eventually making your way up into lexington. it's been a tough ride. delays remain, too, as we check on route 93 here along the northbound ride up to the

128 has been a tough ride through burlington. to the associate side of the expressway we have a lot of folks doing that now. it's a 59-minute ride down to the braintree split. having delays towards downtown boston. coming up along the mass pike westbound heading out to exit 17, a slow right there. and tight traffic downtown. joe stapleton, 7news. >> a six-year-old boy is experiencing life in a new way thanks to university of louisiana students. >> luke abraham is now the proud owner of three new hands. a boy and a ball. it doesn't get better. that's why six-year-old luke abraham loves baseball and is a big fan of jim abbott >> he's cool because he has a baseball.

were born without a right hand. the fingers aren't fully formed. still, luke has been a happy, well adjusted kid. then his grandmother, juli em, take a step. >> i heard him say, mom, when will i ever get a robohand and -- it just got to me. >> reporter: julie wrote a letter to the university. the professor there and three teams of students designed and created prsmdototypes for luke with open store software on the internet and used cutting edge 3d plinting facilities. they came up with three hands. and he tried them out. >> i'm happy i have this hand because i've never had a robohand before and now i can pick up things. >> the exciting part was seeing him catch that ball and throw it with that arm for the first time. >> a minute ago he waved to me

which he's never done before. >> the light up with the smile and everything was indescribable. it was amazing to see that influence. >> reporter: luke can close the fingers with the flex of his wrist. the bigger orange and black hand is great for throwing a ball or holding a cup. the red and black spider-man hand can pick up things >> it was cool when i walked in school and everybody was, like, whoa, look at that hand. that's super cool. >> reporter: let's just say luke got a lot of requests not just for handshakes. >> they wanted to do a face palm, high five, shake it. >> the school says it takes 40 hours to make each hand. >> coming up, who is up for this year's golden globes? the spotlight is a movie based here in boston.

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>> topping the buzz, wards hollywood. the screen actors guild announced nomination yesterday. nominees . >> i love christmas. >> the 1950s romance "carroll" enchanted the hollywood press, five golden global nomination and best actress for two of the

it will up against "spotlight." the mother-son drawm ma "room." -- drama, "room". the "danish girl" is in the run and" trombone". co-star also received a nomination. >> the whole housing market is propped up on these bad loans. >> reporter: the "big short" stood tall in the comedy category.

>> reporter: "the adventure tale" had enough humor to land it alongside" the big short". there are others nominated too. all right. the golden globes will air january 10 right here on #- -- 7 nbc. >> 7news at 5:00 starts right now. >> breaking news. line. passengers traveling down the tracks without an operator. now with passengers are saying will the frightening trip and what authorities say caused the wild ride. we have big story coverage. also breaking. a shooter on the campus of arkansas state university. the suspect is now behind bars. then, more students sick at

plus a battle for business. a cab driver drug several feet after a heated argument with an >> mild afternoon. . will we keep it going through the weekend? >> brawm is back. the patriot super star returns to practice field. >> 7news starts now. >> a run away train on the red line. passengers traveling down the tracks without an operator. at least one person suffering minor injuries. and we're hearing what passengers are saying about the trip and what authorities say caused the wild ride. we have big story coverage tonight. >> we have breaking news to talk about later on. we'll get to that. but we'll start with dan hausle. he's been covering this story all day long. >> reporter: well, investigators saying it was hue mar error that caused this train to leave the station without the driver. that driver, we're now learning