Man Attempts to Hijack Fuel Tanker in Indiana

WTHR ^ | 03/25/03 | WTHR

[RonPaulLives]

Man attempts to hijack fuel tanker

Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News

Clermont, March 24 - The FBI has released a sketch of a man wanted for questioning in conection with what may have been a hijack attempt of a gasoline tanker trucker hauling 10,000 gallons of fuel.

"We find it very unusual that somebody would be trying to pull over a gasoline tanker," says Indiana State Police Trooper Jackie Taylor.

It happened Monday morning not far from Martinsville on State Road 37.

According to federal law enforcement officials, the truck belongs to a Clermont transportation company. Its driver was hauling the gasoline to Bloomington when the driver of a white Yukon SUV started tailgating the tanker and flashing police lights located in the grill of the SUV.

Thomas Fuenes is the FBI Special Agent in Charge. "He became suspicious, called his dispatcher who told him not to pull over. The SUV then pulled along side the truck. The passenger rolled down the window and pointed a gun in his face."

Sources say the incident is being reviewed by the Justice Department which recently received intelligence from Al-Qaeda members suggesting that terrorists are targeting fuel tankers and gas stations that could be used in attacks against the US.

Officials say, "Since 9-11 we're looking at particular industries and threats and the fact that it's a fuel tanker completely loaded with gas adds to the interest in this case."

The FBI is questioning the truck driver, said to be shaken by the incident, while mounting a search for the suspect who has helped heighten the tensions over when and how terrorists will strike the US next.

[RonPaulLives]

I looked, but hadn't seen a post about this. Has anyone heard about this?

[xJones]

No, I hadn't heard of this, thanks. Here's the sketch the FBI released:

[demsux]

driver of a white Yukon SUV

I drive a Tahoe and with the price of gas right now, I could use about 10,000 free gallons.

[Kozak]

Here's the sketch

[refreshed]

Maybe he was tired of paying $2.00+ a gallon.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I know you're joking (of a kind), but he wouldn't be paying $2/gallon in Indiana. The price of gas is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper in Indiana than it is in, say, its bordering states of Illinois and Michigan, both of which apparently impose more taxes on a gallon of gas than Indiana. For ex. when gas was hovering around $1.50/gal in the Chicago area, the price of gas in Indiana was $1.20 gal.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Bump.

[Always Right]

I know you're joking (of a kind), but he wouldn't be paying $2/gallon in Indiana. The price of gas is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper in Indiana than it is in, say, its bordering states of Illinois and Michigan, both of which apparently impose more taxes on a gallon of gas than Indiana.

Except once you get south of Indianapolis, around the Martinsville/Bloomington area, gas is about 15-25 cents higher.

[refreshed]

Out here in Arizona, the cheapest gas I've seen is 1.75, with the cheapest around Phoenix being 1.95. I forget that gas is much cheaper in the mid-west (I lived in Missouri for a long, long time).

So, the hijacker was probably going to resell in Chicago, right?!? He could've made a bundle.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Here's the sketch."

Damn, I always thought Jay Buhner was a good guy. You never know . ..

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Gas is now down to around $1.67 a gallon at most pumps outside of the Crook, er, Cook (i.e. Chicago) County borders. This is down from it being in the mid $1.70 range just last week.

The tax on gas is always about $.05 more just by going inside Cook County. For example, I live in a suburb that is just south of the Cook County/Lake County border. I often buy my gas either in the next suburb to the north, or when I make a trip to the SW suburbs (about 2 times a week).

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Why do you think that is the case?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Damn, I always thought Jay Buhner was a good guy. You never know . ..

heh heh heh

[faithincowboys]

look arab to anybody? if we have another mcveigh militia a$$hole working with the muslim terrorists, i am gonna be one unhappy camper!!!

our militia friends have come up mighty empty in this battle. if in their crusade to destroy "zog" they collaborate with the people trying to kill us, there are going to be a lot of angry people in this country.

pissed off!!

[Always Right]

Why do you think that is the case?

Indy is in a different region than Bloomington/Martinsville as far a gas distribution goes. Not sure why there is so much difference from one region to the next, but for some reason the region for which Indy is served is always cheaper. Anyways, I hope this creep gets caught. Not easy to hide in a white Yukon. This is too close to home.

[piasa]

fyi

[BADROTOFINGER]

Wow, that does look just like Bone...JFK

[Chancellor Palpatine]

As long as the police use unmarked cars on traffic detail, stuff like this can and will happen. My wife is under strict instruction to not pull over for anything less than a bubble bar. This practice is dangerous, gets people killed - and is not worth it.

[ez]

Time for truckers to start packing heat.

[ez]

This practice is dangerous, gets people killed - and is not worth it.

There's no reason why unmarked cars can't act as "observers" only and call in real squad cars when needed.