--------------------------------------------50,000 pounds of ribs go up in smoke in highway truck fire
Brake system sparks blaze in trailer near Hazel Crest
Tribune staff report
7:39 AM CDT, April 30, 2008
A brake fire sparked a massive barbecue on Interstate Highway 80 near Hazel Crest overnight when a truck hauling 25 tons of beef ribs went up in flames, state police said.
The semi-trailer truck was headed east on I-80 about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday and was exiting onto southbound Interstate Highway 294 when a fire started in the braking system, igniting a blaze that consumed the entire trailer, said Master Sgt. David Bird of the Illinois State Police. The driver escaped without injury.
The trailer was loaded with about 50,000 pounds of beef ribs, Bird said. He could not say what cut of ribs they were, but added, "There was no sauce."
The trailer burned down to its MEHTUL frame and remained on the side ramp as of 7 a.m., Bird said. He said it would be towed after the morning rush. No citations were issued, he said.
Jason Meisner, Tribune reporter
Does applying and removing the duct tape add or detract from his sentence?
Apr 30, 12:17 AM EDT
`Duct Tape Bandit' pleads guilty to robbing Ky. liquor store
CATLETTSBURG, Ky. (AP) -- A man who wrapped his head in duct tape to conceal his identity has pleaded guilty to robbing an eastern Kentucky liquor store.
Under terms of a plea agreement, 25-year-old Kasey G. Kazee faces 10 years in prison, the maximum sentence. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree robbery.
Police said Kazee entered an Ashland liquor store on Aug. 10 with his entire head, except for openings at his eyes and mouth, wrapped in duct tape.
Kazee told a clerk he had a knife and threatened to harm her if she didn't give him the money from the cash register, police said. The clerk complied and the man left.
Before the "Duct Tape Bandit" could make his getaway, another store employee tackled him in the parking lot, police said. The employee and several other men who came running from a neighboring store detained the suspect until officers arrived.
Police didn't say how much money was taken, but the store manager said the register came up $15 short. Police said no weapon was found on Kazee when he was arrested.
Sentencing was set for May 23.