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CNN Live Today

Survivors from Peruvian Crash Speak Out; Lance Armstrong Fights Back

Aired August 26, 2005 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: South Floridians are slogging through floodwaters now that Hurricane Katrina is in the Gulf of Mexico. The category one storm dumped as much as a foot of rain in some areas and packed winds up to 80 miles an hour.
Hurricane Katrina is expected to strengthen over the Gulf and could hit the Florida panhandle early next week. We'll have a full report in just a couple of minutes.

Just about an hour ago, a federal panel rejected the Pentagon's recommendation and voted to keep open Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. The facility is the state's second largest employer, also a major base for B-1 bombers. Supporters say Ellsworth's role in national security made it indispensable.

In Iraq, lawmakers are still searching for compromise in hammering out the nation's draft constitution. The Bush administration has said that the document is essential for Iraq's autonomy. And President Bush underlined its importance by personally making a phone call. He spoke to a prominent Shiite leader and urged continued cooperation.

I want to show you some pictures we're just getting in from south Florida in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. From especially the Miami- Dade area. This not -- this area not expecting the storm to take a left turn like it did. And yet, as you can see, they're dealing with toppled trees. A lot of the streets are still flooded today. At some of the small airports, planes are flipped over, as well.

Authorities are telling people who evacuated their homes, in fact, don't go home yet. Downed power lines are a hazard. There you can see some of the flipped over planes. A live picture there from our affiliate WSVN. More than a million customers are still without power, and at least four people were killed by trees, three falling on them. One person drove into a tree. The slow movement of the storm has prompted flooding concerns. And an overpass under construction crashed into a roadway near Miami. That should impact traffic in that area for some time.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Meanwhile, let's check some world news. Children screaming, people jumping from windows. A nightmarish scene from a Paris fire that is too tragically familiar. At least 17 people were killed in an apartment building in a fire there early today. Thirty others were injured. Most of the victims were West African immigrants. An overnight fire at a Paris hotel in April killed 24 people, and just like today's fire, the victims included African immigrants and their children.

Investigators may never know what caused Tuesday's crash of a Peruvian airliner into the Amazon jungle. Locals have been looting the downed plane, taking away luggage, electronic equipment and even parts of the aircraft. That crash left at least 37 people dead.

Our Harris Whitbeck reports on those who managed to survive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A home video shows American Monica Glenn and her Peruvian husband William Zea during one of the happiest moments of their lives: their wedding, celebrated just last Saturday in the Peruvian city of Arequipa.

Today, William and Monica lie in adjoining beds in a hospital in Lima, William's face badly burned, Monica's injured hands wrapped in thick bandages. The couple was beginning their honeymoon on board TANS flight 204 that crashed into the Peruvian jungle during severe weather Tuesday afternoon.

MONICA GLENN, CRASH SURVIVOR: The lights were blinking. Everything was shaking. People were screaming, particularly younger children. And, yes, but the flames were just enormous.

WHITBECK: William is a volunteer firefighter. His training helped him save his wife and others from the burning plane.

"I kept my cool," he says. "My hands were burned, but I was able to reason clearly and figure out what was happening." He guided his wife off the plane and then went looking for others.

GLENN: William was very alert and he spotted a little girl about eight or nine years old who was just crying -- had, you know -- was burnt.

WHITBECK: They spent more than an hour waiting to be rescued from the jungle marsh where the plane went down, and were flown to Lima for medical treatment.

(on camera): Both William and Monica will have to undergo several surgeries and possibly weeks of rehabilitation, but they say that is of little concern, because they're both alive.

GLENN: I think the thing that has remained strong between us is that we are together. It's a different type of honeymoon, I guess. But, you know, I married my best friend. He's, you know, he's my number one, and we're together.

WHITBECK (voice-over): Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Lima, Peru.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: An incredible story. We have another incredible survivor story for you. A college football coach survives a terrible car accident thanks to a stranger who is driving right behind him. Still to come, the two men meet up for the very fist time after that devastating day.

And seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong takes on Larry King and Bob Costas about the doping allegations against him. You'll hear what Lance had to say.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Bad attitudes in the workplace? They are on the rise according to a new survey. And not surprisingly, workers and their bosses look at the problem differently. The RANSAD (ph) survey found four of 10 employees said that morale was good or excellent. That is down from 44 percent last year. But a majority of employers felt company was good or excellent. Last year 70 percent of those employers gave the same rating. The reports reason for lower morale, workers given low or no raises, have more responsibility and longer hours, and having to give back benefits. RANSAD's Suggestions to boost morale, get stronger leaders, use the right people on the right job and improve employee programs.

Lance Armstrong not having the greatest day. He is out defending his honor. He says he's been set up. We'll hear what he had to say to Larry King in just a bit.

Also, a college football coach on his way to a new job in a terrible car accident, but there was a guardian angel following behind him. We have the angel and the coach joining me just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, it's not often that a person has a chance to meet a guardian angel face to face. But the head football coach at Morehouse College in Atlanta believes he has met his. In June, Terry Beauford suffered life-threatening injuries in a highway accident outside Charlotte, North Carolina. But get this, Atlanta doctor Michael Starsiak happened to be traveling that same road at the same time and was right there to save the life of the stranger.

Well, the men met again last night as the coach took over his new coaching job at Morehouse, and they're both with us today.

Gentlemen, good morning.

A very inspiring couldn't story. Coach, let's start with you, June 25th, earlier this summer, you're driving down here to Atlanta. What happened?

TERRY BEAUFORD, MOREHOUSE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: I was on my way back to Hampton. And when I got in North Carolina a car hat had a flat. And the car didn't pull off the side of the road. A car just stopped. And so I tried to dodge it. I tried to dodge it. My truck just got out of control. And when it got out of control I was like, wow. You know, the last thing I remember saying before it was over was, Lord, it's in your hands.

KAGAN: And your car flipped a number of times and you were ejected.

BEAUFORD: Correct.

KAGAN: But, doctor, you happened to be traveling on that same highway at the same time.

DR. MICHAEL STARSIAK, EMORY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: Yes.

KAGAN: What did you see?

STARSIAK: Well, actually I didn't see the accident occur. But I arrived probably a few seconds...

KAGAN: We're looking at pictures of what was left of the car, right?

BEAUFORD: Goodness.

KAGAN: Yes.

STARSIAK: Yes, that's it.

KAGAN: What kind of condition did you find the coach in?

STARSIAK: Well, he was unconscious when I got there, and you know, out probably at 50 to 75 feet from the car. And, you know, there was a bystander who stopped on the side service road who -- he and his girlfriend called 911, thankfully. And you know, he was unconscious, bleeding, wrapped up in some cable and covered in all the contents of his car.

KAGAN: Was he dying? What do you think?

STARSIAK: Well, the problem is, is when you're out on the road, there's no X-ray there, and there's no way of knowing. And so the initial thought is, make my assessment, and that's what I did. They beat it into you in internship in medical school, you know, airway, breathing, circulation, and I did just that, and tried to take steps to stabilize him until help arrived.

KAGAN: And coach, how are you doing today? How is your health?

BEAUFORD: I'm doing pretty good. I'm slowly recovering. Still a lot of back pain, sleeping at night is a lot of discomfort, tossing and turning. Still have bleeding from the back of my scalp from my wounds. My hand is still not healed completely yet. But it's still, you know, I'm here.

KAGAN: You're here. With a job to do. So as we were mentioning last night, your debut as coach of Morehouse College, a come-from- behind win. We were talking about this game before we came out. This was a little close, but you won 20-17, and this is also the first time that you two have seen each other since June.

BEAUFORD: That's correct.

STARSIAK: That's true.

BEAUFORD: I told him when I saw him, when they called me over to the sideline. My eyes went straight to him. Never met him before, but I walked straight that way. Got to meet the guy that saved me. And it was just amazing, though, I tell you. I'm just blessed to have a guy that, you know, just did the right thing, you know, and that's what it's all about, you know, helping others, and I'm a witness to people that want to do right and do good. So I very much appreciate it.

KAGAN: A very good thank you. You were saying, doctor, a little bit more stressful being at that game last night with the come-from- behind win than doing what you had to do on the side of the road in June.

STARSIAK: Yes, there's no control up there in the stands. I cheered as hard as I could and prayed, but you know, we came up with a win.

KAGAN: And there you go. This is -- he's clearly your lucky charm. Side of the road, and he's there for the come-behind win. I think you need him at every game.

BEAUFORD: Oh, please be there. We'll basically -- we'll fly you in. But the last thing, what was that? We promise him the game ball before the game. And that last minute and 30 seconds was going by, and I'm looking up at God, I'm sorry, I'm saying, Lord, we done promised him that ball. I put myself on the spot. And we came through and, boy, it was good. It was a blessing to be able to have that ball off.

KAGAN: Well, thank you for sharing your story. Good luck with your continued rehabilitation.

BEAUFORD: Definitely appreciate it. Thank you very much.

KAGAN: And, Doctor, thank you for sharing your story. Gentlemen, thank you.

We're going to take a break. We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We continue to get new pictures into us here at CNN. This the preferred form of transportation to get down to street in South Florida today. A guy on a jet ski, zooming along. As you can see, a number of the roads have been flooded by the enormous amount of rain from Hurricane Katrina. That storm still out there and gaining strength. We'll check in with Chad Myers in a bit to see where the storm is headed next. Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong is denying that he ever used performance-enhancing drugs. Earlier this week, a French newspaper reported Armstrong used a banned substance in 1999. That's when he won the first of his seven Tour de France titles. Armstrong talked about the allegation on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE" last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANCE ARMSTRONG, DENIES DOPING: That kind of an accusation is preposterous. The you consider the science, if you consider the protocol involved in drug testing, if you consider the standards that have been set over dozens of years, you know none of that was followed here. And so for Jean Marie to say that was a shock to me, first of all, because I actually to him that very same day for about 30 minutes on the telephone. I called him at his house in Paris. And he didn't say any of those things to me. In fact, he just sort of hemmed and hawed and said, I'm surprised. And I said, yes, I'm surprised, too. I think we're all surprised. But none of the stuff that, of course, I read in the paper came across in his phone call to me.

But this thing stinks. It's not good for me. And the unfortunate thing is that you're potentially dealt with something that you have to face for the rest of your life. And like I said, the protocol wasn't followed. And there is no back-up sample to confirm what they say is a positive test.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Armstrong says he did use a red blood cell boosting drug EPO, but that was back in 1996, three years before the French allegation. It was part of his chemotherapy and not for his bike training.

Let's take a closer look at this from within the world of racing. Dave Shields is immersed in the issue. He is the author of "The Race," a book about the Tour de France, and is currently compiling another work on doping in professional cycling. Joins us again from Salt Lake.

Dave, good to see you.

DAVE SHIELDS, AUTHOR, "THE RACE": Good to see you, too, Daryn.

KAGAN: So Lance Armstrong says he was set up. What do you think?

SHIELDS: Well, everything that he said about the protocol violations and all the rest of that was correct. I mean, he's in a situation where he can't prove anything. So that has the earmarkings of a set-up. Plus the fact that this comes out in the newspaper. I mean, just imagine, how can a newspaper be the one who's going to report a situation like this, rather than the agency, the people that are in charge of the sport?

KAGAN: What does this do to Lance Armstrong in the standing of the world of cycling? People who want to believe him will and people who don't won't?

SHIELDS: I definitely think we're see that already right now. You know, people who believe that Armstrong -- that believe that he's a good guy and that he's clean, they're coming on and they're saying those things. I saw a comment from somebody who doesn't believe in Armstrong and they said, well, if you looked at the interview last night closely, he had an ear piece in his ear. You know, I do, too. I'm being fed secret service information, but, you know, that's different.

KAGAN: Well, we should just explain, he was doing an interview not just with not just Larry King, but Bob Costas, and he had to be able to hear what the people were asking him.

SHIELDS: Sure.

KAGAN: That's why you have an ear piece in your ear. Where does this go from here? Lance Armstrong says he does not want to sue.

SHIELDS: You know, that doesn't mean -- I don't think that I really heard him take legal action all the way out of it. I think that he probably would prefer not to. But it's going to be a big story for a while and we're going to see if any more evidence comes up.

There have been a couple other crazy stories that have appeared in national media as a result of this. One of them that I saw this morning was coming out in a national media source that said that French officials during the Tour de France had identified a man walking into a hotel that Lance was staying at with a big blue ice chest, and they wanted to question him. But the next day, they felt like he was tipped off by some camera crew and he didn't show up again. So, you know, I mean, it's almost laughable.

KAGAN: So the conspiracy theories are going to abound here.

SHIELDS: Yes.

KAGAN: Is it important what Lance Armstrong does from here, in terms of the credibility of cycling? Or he can just stand on his record?

SHIELDS: I think that -- I think that cycling has some problems right now in terms of, I mean, what is going on? If the officials that are running cycling are going to be attacking the guys who are making this sport work like this, it's a little bit of a sad time. And that's really too bad, because it's just such a spectacular sport. When people learn about what is actually going on in this sport, they're so compelled. So, you know, there's other races. Maybe the Tour de France is going to lose a little bit of viewership.

KAGAN: Well, certainly without Lance Armstrong, that definitely is going to happen.

Dave Shields, thank you for your cycling expertise.

SHIELDS: Anytime.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, more than 50 students at one Ohio high school have gotten pregnant in the past year. CNN's Tom Foreman looks into this sudden baby boom.

And later, North Carolina's Topsail Island is one of the most vulnerable to hurricanes, so why do residents keep rebuilding at the expense of you, the taxpayer?

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Let's take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

Hurricane Katrina churns in the Gulf of Mexico after lashing Southeast Florida. The storm left at least four people dead and more than one million in the dark. Katrina appears headed for a second landfall along the Florida Panhandle. Our live hurricane coverage begins in just a minute.

Triple-digit temperatures expected today cut put a strain on electrical service in Southern California. Following yesterday's power outages, rolling blackouts cut power to as many as a half million customers. Southern California Edison says high demand and problems with a major transmission line triggered the power emergency.

The base closings commission rejects the Pentagon plan to close a major Air Force base. The panel voting this morning to keep Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota open. The base is South Dakota's second largest employer and home to half of the nation's B-1B bombers.

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