I may get out and have dinner. Ton something. Thats for sure. A horrible accident here on the Grand Central parkway today and there was a second smaller fenderbender here in the eastbound lanes about an hour after the first crash. Its caused even more delays. That second accident appears to have been removed but the damage has already been done concerned. Reporting live from mobile2 on the Grand Central parkway in hollis, queens, brian conybeare, cbs 2 news. We are two days away now from a possible new Jersey Transit strike. There are conflicting signs now about whether a deal could be reached today. New Jersey Transit and Union Leaders are meeting at this hour. We have team coverage. Cbs 2s emily smith is at penn station with how commuters are planning to cope. We begin with lou young with the latest on the negotiations. Reporter its crunch time according to their own words. Were gathered at the hilton here, the gateway hilton to get first news of a Union Contract deal to head off a strike. 4,000 workers for new Jersey Transit trains have been without a contract since 2011. Money and healthcare costs are issues and the length of contract. Without a deal, the strike is possible sunday morning. Its been authorized. A commuting disaster that nj transit can only mitigate with the addition of extra buses. Management is at least saying they can wrap it up without going into the weekend. Some optimism. Theres no reason why this cant close today. It should close today. Everything that we have to talk about we have talked through. We know exactly what the differences are between us. Now time to close those differences reach an agreement, lift the threat of a strike off the heads of our customers and move on. You guys this is going to close today . No comment. Reporter yeah. Recently when asked how long it will take, they said soon. How long is soon in this context . We dont know. We cant tell you. Rail workers often early a six figure salary annually with overtime but they seem most concerned in this instance with healthcare insurance. They pay no premiums and there are copays involved payroll issues upwards of 80 a week at stake. If the strike happens its expected to snarl traffic monday morning in Hudson County and the hudson river crossings as 100,000 commuters switch to cars. In newark, lou young, cbs 2 news. Could be a mess, lou, thank you. Its been three decades since the last nj transit strike. So are commuters prepared to handle what might happen . Cbs 2s emily smith joins us now from penn station where the pressure is on. Reporter more than 100,000 into new york city every day. As of today those commuters are pretty concerned about monday morning. Praying and hoping. Reporter it was get out of dodge time at penn station this afternoon. And while commuters were happy to kickstart their weekend, the impending transit strike and how they are going to get back into the city on monday morning was putting a damper on things. Its not going to be pretty. Its going to really be hustle bustle. There is already a push day. Thats going to be chaos. Its not going easy. Reporter anthony from red bank, new jersey, says he has some options but is not looking forward to them. Academy bus or take the ferry. But its a whole different commute. And its going to be a lot its going to be difficult. I can work from home but some people cant. Reporter especially essential Services Workers which is why many manhattan hospitals say they are ready to put their doctors and nurses up. If this situation calls for that. Well be making provisions for emergency lodging at our facilities either in the patient areas or on air mattresses or cots. Reporter Chris Christie no relation to the governor says he endured the long island rail road strike when he lived in new york in 1987 and he doesnt want do it again. Its not fun. Really isnt because the we had to drive in and it was chaos. And trying to find parking in the city was just crazy. Reporter that strike lasted 11 days. Heaven forbid, say commuters. Strike is not good. Strike is not good. Working is good. Reporter but its possible in 1983, new Jersey Transit struck for a full month, something carla, who commutes from brick church station, says she certainly doesnt want a repeat of. I cant stay home. I have to go to hoboken and get around. Reporter a lot of people say they plan to go to hoboken to take the path train into the city. Those tickets will be cross live from penn station, emily smith, cbs 2 news. Stay with cbs 2 for continuing coverage of the strike threat and for more information on the contingency plans and other ways to get around, please visit our website, cbsnewyork. Com. It was a Beautiful Day to learn to fly. But just minutes into a first flight lesson over long island, the engine failed and an Emergency Landing was the only option. Cbs 2s Vanessa Murdoch with the drama. Reporter its not the sight would you expect to see at sunken meadows state park a singleengine cessna parked on the sand. Around 11 a. M. This beach became an Emergency Landing strip. I decided to land on the beach to save my life. Very simple. Reporter the pilot said he was just minutes out of Republic Airport giving a first flight lesson in whats known as the north practice area when the engine failed at 3,000 feet up. He radioed for help. And i was able to get that he had two souls on board before went down. Reporter has this ever happened to you before . No. I flying 35 years and this is the first time. He did what he was trained to do. He found a place to land and he landed safely on the beach. Reporter the coowner of long island aviators and the plane, he says this is the first time his company has ever experienced engine failure during flight. But its a scenario every pilot trains for just a moment actually over here. Picked out a place to land and he came what we call downwind. He went downwind turned base and landed into the wind along the beach. Reporter nothing but sand. Keleti had roughly 2 minutes to glide from 3,000 feet to safety. What about your student that was with you . How did react . He trust me. He trust me. The student, believe it or not, it was his first lesson. And they are going to fly again tomorrow. Reporter a second shot at a first flight lesson. Brave choice, considering how from sunken meadows state park, Vanessa Murdoch, cbs 2 news. Now to campaign 2016. One of Donald Trumps former rivals is now coming to his defense and also explaining why he thinks the billionaire is the best of the president ial candidates. Cbs 2s Craig Boswell has more from washington. Reporter dr. Ben carson endorsed donald trump during a News Conference in florida friday morning. Its such an honor to have ben. He is a friend. He has become a friend. And, um, i really appreciate the endorsement, ben, thank you. Reporter carson says he was able to get over trumps attacks against him during his campaign because he has gotten to know the other donald trump. There are two different Donald Trumps. Theres the one you see on the stage. And theres the one who is is he cerebral. Reporter perhaps it was the more cerebral trump who showed up last night who left out the personal attacks. Last nights debate was fun, different. A lot of good feelings in that room. Reporter the biggest policy difference during the night came when trump claims Social Security is fine as it stands as long as we get rid of fraud. Lets wipe out fraud but as you said it wont add up. You already gave those numbers. But the answer cant just be wave a magic wand, problem go away. This is not a theory. You have to take on balance the budget. It doesnt mean you have to cut them. Reporter it remains to be seen if the good feelings in the debate will continue as the candidates hit the campaign trail ahead of tuesdays primaries. Craig boswell, cbs 2 news. It was a celebration of life. Today hundreds of friends, family members, celebrities and dignitaries pay their final respects to former first lady nancy reagan. Service held on the grounds of the reagan president ial library in southern california. Cbs 2s alice gainer reports. Reporter first Lady Michelle obama, former president george w. Bush and first Lady Hillary Clinton arrived ahead of the procession. I am the resurrection and the life saith the lord. Reporter a Diverse Group of people filled the seats along with hundreds of dignitaries, journalists and celebrities. [ music ] reporter Reagan LibraryOfficials Say nancy reagan personally created the guest list for the funeral and chose everything from the flowers and program to the pallbearers. Her husbands Favorite Song was also played. Glory glory halleluia reporter former chief of staff james baker delivered the main eulogy. When they were together, he hid love notes around the house. Reporter one of president reagans letters to nancy from 1981 was read. Fortunately for me, that is, for there could be no life for me without you. Reporter it was his letter to her on their first i love the whole gang of you. Mummy, first lady, the sentimental you, the fun you. Reporter other speakers included diane sawyer. She told very wicked and the days when life would throw you a curve and you got up and you put on your lipstick and you combed your hair and you kept the band playing. Reporter the reagan children patty davis and ron davis, jr. , reflected on their mothers devotion to their father and the family. She was devoted. When my father was shot and my mother rushed to the hospital, they at first wouldnt let her see him. I have to, she said. You dont understand how it is with us. Reporter but others could see it. The two intertwined as one. Theirs was a love story for the ages as first couple, ron and nancy reagan represented america with great distinction. They had style. And they had grace. Reporter and now once again reunited they have each other. But most importantly, she will once again lay down beside the man who was the love of her life. The one she loved until the end of her days. [ voice breaking ] they watch the sun drop over the hills in the west toward the sea and as night falls, they will look out across the valley, my father will tell her that the lights below are her jewels. The moon and stars will endlessly turn overhead and here they will stay as they always wished it to be resting in each others arms only each others arms until the end of time. Final resting place will be on the grounds of the library right by her husbands side. Nancy is best known for her support of her husband and her just say no to drugs campaign. Thats four sure. Fitting ceremony this afternoon. There was some levity in there, too. It was nice to hear some of the stories and, you know, just you know, their personal experiences. It was it was a very beautiful, beautiful tribute. It was. Ronald reagan lightened up a couple of moment. Very funny. More news here for you at 5 00 including this story about being slashed in the neck by a stranger. Hear from one of the citys latest victims of knife violence. I hope they find him as soon as possible. Tonight the search for her attacker and what she says might have made her more vulnerable on the streets. Plus, why a local lawmaker wants taxpayers to foot the bill so heroin addicts can get high. Deadly storms, flooding, authorizes evacuated, big concerns a levee could break. And a fireball in the sky. What caused this massive explosion at a construction we have the mobile weather lab here at Columbus Circle where it is cooler today than it was yesterday and the day before. Still plenty of op are getting out and enjoying whats still a very mild friday. Things cool down a bit more for your weekend. Ill have the details coming ive been a turkey farmer my whole life. And i raise turkey for shady brook farms. We dont use growthpromoting antibiotics, thats just the way things should be done. Thats important to me. My name is glenn, and im an independent turkey farmer. female announcer shady brook farms. No growthpromoting antibiotics, just honest, simple turkey. In new york state, we believe tomorrow starts today. All across the state, the economy is growing, with creative new business incentives, and the lowest taxes in decades, attracting the talent and companies of tomorrow. Like in buffalo, western hemisphere will soon energize the world. And in syracuse, where imagination is in production. Let us help grow your companys tomorrow we are learn more tonight about how a handcuffed suspect was able to steal a Freeport Police suv and speed away for two miles. The incident left a path of destruction in next door merrick. Cbs 2s Carolyn Gusoff has the new information. Reporter startled, babylon road residents found their parked cars wrecked half a dozen rammed by a stolen Freeport Police suv. I heard a big bang and everything. It was really crazy. I told my whole family to stay down because i saw guns drawn. Reporter behind the wheel of a police car a handcuffed suspect 36yearold andrew howard. Sources say Freeport Police an alarm thursday night indicating a rented car want in a string of health club larcenies. Pulled over a block from headquarters, placed in the back seat, howard nimble and agile managed to slip his hands from behind his back to the front, slide open a partition tigs like this one and wiggle through head first. I dont know ever thought an individual could squeeze through that small square hole. This individuals 59, 155 pounds a swift clean maneuver. Reporter police had left of the suv running while out of the vehicle questioning howards passengers. In the drivers seat, still handcuffs, he sped off nearly Striking PoliceStandard Operating Procedure to leave the Police Vehicle running with a handcuffed suspect in the back seat . That is under investigation right now. Reporter car owners are left to pay for extensive his is a station car. Got no collision. Credit their new license plate readers for stopping a career criminal with a violent record but had no comment on whether officers followed protocol. Police wear body cameras and have mounted dash cams. Police will be reviewed those tapes for lessons learned. In mineola, long island, Carolyn Gusoff, cbs 2 news. Howard is hospitalized and faces several charges including grand larceny. Two passengers were also arrested after a knife was found in the rented car. New information in a crash that killed two teenagers walking on a sidewalk in union city, new jersey. Additional charges of aggravated manslaughter have been filed against the unlicensed driver. Prosecutors say toxicology reports show Eric Paterson was high on pcps. Investigators say 293yearold was speeding when he jumped the curb on saturday killing 17yearold Brian Rodriguez teenager critically injured. A major mess after a east village at 10 a. M. Workers pouring cement at 811 broadway breached a wall sending cement into a stairwell in the next door building at 813 broadway. It led to the evacuation of thatling with and an hours long cleanup effort. No word on injuries. Louisianas governor declared a state of emergency after heavy rain for the fourth straight day caused flooding. The storm left many roads impassible in the border city. Dozens of familiar his were rescued after they were trapped in their homes. Overnight, the National Guard went door to door enforcing mandatory evacuations. Rivers and creeks overflowed flooding entire neighborhoods. Five people were killed. The Current System causing the weekend. Here in the tristate area felt nice. Sure did. Get used to it. Elise finch is out with the Columbus Circle in for lonnie tonight. Reporter hey, maurice. Yeah, so definitely cooler today than yesterday and the day before. We have the mobile weather lab here in Columbus Circle and, of course, the instrumentation on the top telling us that the temperature we are getting right here in this spot, 61. 9 degrees. Take a look. There it is on the back of the screen. Definitely cooler than what we had. Lets look at current temperatures in the rest of the tristate area. We have 48 degrees in monticello the cool spot. Still 60s in addition to the city also in white plains at 60, 62 for bridgeport and islip and somerville belmar at 64 degrees. When you take a look at the temperature difference between now and yesterday, it is 16 degrees cooler now than it was this time yesterday in the city same for belmar and somerville, 15 degrees cooler in andover. It is 10 degrees cooler in white plains. So what were our high temperatures today . Well, there they go. Still in the 60s. Still well above where we should be. Had yesterday and the day b6 8 for jfk. 65 for bridgeport. Islip, newark. Central park made it to 63 degrees. Now, we have even cooler temperatures as we head into your weekend. And ill have those details coming up in just a bit. Maurice and kristine . Thank you. Taking drastic measures in the war on heroin. Next a lawmaker who wants to supply drug users a place to shoot up in new york city. Plus very surprising because i didnt know anything like that exists. A war secret hidden in an attic wall. The family secret from an old home. And later, smart contact lenses. How Bluetooth Technology is while monitoring their health. Coming up at 6 00, nightmare at newark airport. This morning hundreds of people were waiting in line to get through security and this is not the first time. Whats causing this backlog . Plus this. You know what to do with me. And everybody was