Posted on 11/05/2001 3:35:26 PM PST by dogbyte12
Sorry for the vanity folks. But something happened today to me that spooked me, and I don't spook that easily.
I was driving to work today going south bound in San Gabriel California on a major street when a van turned in front of me. Large custom white van with a huge bubble top on it.
As we are going, liquid suddenly drips from underneath the van. Hmmm, I thought, bad exhaust or something. It stops. Then about 30 seconds later, another 4 oz of so of liquid drips out. Again, it doesn't appear to be from the exhaust pipe, but I figure it must be.
Then it happened. Out of nowhere, from the right passenger window a large... I mean 3 by 3 foot cloud of either white smoke or white powder flies out the right window. It dissipates and is invisible in about 2 to 3 seconds. I know anthrax is brown, but it freaks me out that I see this substance in such quantities. This was no cigarette smoke, it was just an instantaneous dicharge of something in such volume that it was probably about the size I think. around 3 by 3 feet.
I then wanted to get a look at the driver. It was a "olive skinned" man approximately 25-35, with short wavy hair, who appeared pakistani, indian in appearance. The van took a quick turn, I headed to work, related the incident to co-workers, who convinced me to call the local police.
Talked to the desk officer who basically humored me. I had written down the liscence plate number told him what I saw and he basically told me that he didn't hear any other complaints yet about this van, and the white smoke or powder was probably an engine discharge or something.
My question is, should I take this further. This very likely can just be a weird congruence, and the local police might have investigated it, but I am wondering if I should call the feds to be sure. I have been hearing stories of them blowing off people with similar tips as well. Any imput would be appreciated.
Met my new neighbor this morning. After telling him about this, he indicated he stopped 5 Middle Eastern fellows from trespassing on his property about a quarter mile from a major military base boundary near their power lines about one week before the WTC attack. Later he and others had to help them get unstuck out of the sand 3 times. Not your normal desert rat wondering in the desert.
I agree it might all be coincidence, but if it walks, talks, swims and quacks like a duck,...
Will you split the reward with us if it turns out they were bad guys?
If these were the bad guys, and I drove into the cloud of anything nasty about 20 feet behind them, I don't think I will be around to split up any reward :)
It's likely nothing, but when these guys do start serious chemical attacks, I hope other people do report it and do not worry about being taken as a paranoid worry wart.
and then track them down with a WHOIS search.
Theoretically, it could have been ashes, no butts though... this stuff hung in the air, then vanished. I was looking at it directly when it happened. I hope, genuinely hope that it is something silly, like a blown radiator, or an ash tray litterer. I mean, I was right behind it and all. My hunch is that it will turn out to be nothing, however if it's nasty stuff, I expect to be avenged. *grin*
Eaker
Also, keep us posted.
Suburbs of LA, if they really exist. LA is a big old sprawl. I was in San Gabriel, probably about 15 miles from downtown LA. It put a damper on my morning, but what can ya do? God decides when it's our time to go, so we just have to keep on keeping on.
The only thing I won't be doing is flying United, but life goes on.
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