Missing HAZMAT truck & Driver, Florida

WCJB TV 20, Gainesville FL ^ | October 2, 2001

[cgk]

Missing Truck Driver Marion County Marion County's special unit investigating terrorism is looking into the disappearance of a truck driver. His name is William Ellis and he has been missing since September 14. While Ellis has no criminal background, his truck may be a hot commodity for would be terrorists. Investigators say Ellis has no criminal background that would lead them to suspect him of wrongdoing. However, the fact that both he and his truck are missing leads investigators to keep a close eye out for their whereabouts. Right now Marion County, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the F.B.I are on the lookout for that truck. It is a Kenworth it bears the numbers 9-0-7 on the tractor and n-3-8-5-8 on the trailer. A satellite tracking device once attached to the truck is no longer sending a signal, so neither the company nor police know where it is. However, the truck is not the only thing that is suspicious about the disappearance of William Ellis. Elise's family says he has a 2-year-old daughter and would never abruptly leave for 2 weeks without word to his mom. In fact Marion county's special unit investigating terrorism is handing this case back to the missing persons division saying at this time there's no indication of danger to the public. However, they plan to keep an eye out for the truck and William Ellis.

[Robear]

This is probably it, Florida. WTC bombing - turned off transponder, here - turn off satellite tracking device. Similarity there, perhaps? Crop duster... expect something immediately after we launch an attack. Seems somewhat disorganized, though, like they at least didn't have this completely set up ahead of time so as to not raise suspicion. Hope to God.

[cgk]

Sorry, it's right there...

Bergen said the aircraft is an Ayers AY-65, which is an agricultural or "crop-dusting type of aircraft," and owned by the State Department.

[MississippiMan]

I don't know why it would be under the auspices of the State Department but I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that these planes are used extensively for destroying drug crops in South America.

MM

[World'sGoneInsane]

I guess that would make sense, then. Someone posted on the other link the fuel consumption, etc. I don't understand it though. Would they fly that over the water? Would it make it?

[3D-JOY]

Yes, they fly from Patrick Air Force Base(maintenance area) to South America for drug spraying.

Bahamas?? Says only one person, the pilot on board.

[piasa]

Yes, it would make it and ... in order to get from island to island or to the mainland you have to fly over water. Flying over water isn't a big deal.

[3D-JOY]

Huge tanks for chemicals and extra structural changes to protect the pilot from ground fire.

[World'sGoneInsane]

Thanks. I've never seen a crop duster. I have seen fire spotters and am thinking that is what it would be like. I just couldn't imagine making it from Bermuda to FL in one of those. I guess after the WTC, I should be able to imagine anything.

[fone]

>>>A lot of the stuff these trucks carry isn't all that dangerous.<<<

An easy way to tell is to look at the diamond-shape decal each and every truck must bear on the rear doors (sometimes the rear side). It has a 4 digit number, often color coded, and will usually say "corrosive" "explosive" or whatever catagory fits. Red tags obviously dangerous, the 4-digits can be looked up to see almost exactly what it is carrying.

That said, this past weekend I had to drive about 80 miles on I-90...lots of trucks as per usual; however, I found myself looking at those tags especially on the tankers. Since this state has 2 speed limits - 65 for cars, 55 for trucks - you pass alot of them. I drove past one that had a tag "flammable" and took a damn good look at the drivers' face in his side mirror as I passed.

Profiling? Sue me. Take nothing for granted any longer.

[PRND21]

Fuel Consumption 45-75 gph

[Soul Citizen]

what was the cargo? Any? Why are we only just now being informed of this? Is it because of the missing plane?

Potential problem- if the plane was diverted to a secondary strip maybe it could be disassembled and brought into the states on a cargo ship. Whereby it could then be used to carry out a chemical or biological attack.

I hope they have plenty of customs agents working overtime!

Looks like we have a national emergency to find this truck!

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED OF EVERYONE AROUND YOU!

[Aztech]

"Bergen said the aircraft is an Ayers AY-65, which is an agricultural or "crop-dusting type of aircraft," and owned by the State Department"

go back and re-read the link again....

[World'sGoneInsane]

This truck has been missing since the 14th. You would have thought this would have been blasted all over the national news. You would think it would have been all over the news on the 15th! They could have had millions of people looking for a Kenworth truck. You know, the public would be more than happy to keep their eyes open! It's really good you posted it here, you are obviously more up to the job of newscasting than the newscasters! I'm going off to rant now...

[piasa]

BAHAMAS MAP

[My Favorite Headache]

Thing here is we now have a missing plane and HAZMAT truck in Florida. I am still sticking to my " This is a war against the Bush family" for the Gulf War theory. Jeb's turn to deal with something. Look out: Disney, Cape Canaveral ( shuttle launch not too far off),Epcot, MGM, Universal Studios, Miami Beach,Sea World,Pro-Player Stadium etc....Florida has so many landmarks and military bases we are a sitting target.

[captain11]

How do you manage to put the truck in the right place to pick up a truly hazardous shipment? A lot of the stuff these trucks carry isn't all that dangerous.

Think a little harder, folks. They probably don't care too much what it was carrying (if anything). Worry about what it might carry, in the future. The truck is the thing--if it was carrying something nasty, that's just icing on the cake for them.

[PRND21]

I like the Factbook, thanks for the link.

[piasa]

I'm concerned for a different, hopefully unrelated thing... anyone know what post Sept 11 regs the FAA still has on restricting small civil av flights? Night flying?

[Lion's Cub]

Yup. It could be anywhere in the country now and has probably been repainted, etc. We either have the dumbest law enforcement in the world, or these terrorists are getting help from within our own government. All indicators that I can see say the latter.

It started with a trial run at OKC and the first WTC, and now the treachery continues.

[piasa]

From factbook:

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; banking industry vulnerable to money laundering

Hey, money laundering and smuggling. Plenty of unsavory characters who could be illicit plane dealers, too... and smuggle more substances than drugs if paid well enough.