Crete...Semi-Truck Fire Scare
Semi-Truck Fire Scare (From Mark Taylor)
Lincoln, Neb.
Posted: 5:36 PM Aug 30, 2007
Last Updated: 6:50 PM Aug 30, 2007
Reporter: Karina Kling
Semi-Truck Fire Scare, Aug. 30
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A planted device sparks a fire inside a semi-truck leaving the driver a little shaken up.
Lincoln Police and Fire and Rescue responded to the Crete Carrier building on West O Street early Thursday morning after a homemade device exploded as one driver opened his truck door.
The driver was 42-year-old Jim Laurino of Michigan.
The scene early Thursday morning, shortly after a homemade incendiary device went off inside a semi-truck cab at the Crete Carrier building, was filled with Lincoln Fire and Rescue and HazMat crews to check out the device.
All this after the driver, Laurino, got quite a scare as he discovered it.
"He had a big stain on his shirt from some chemicals that sprayed on him. They washed him down, hosed him down," said Ken Hilger, Fire Inspector.
Some damage was done to the rig. When the man went to open his door, the device went off, burning up all of the inside.
"When he pulled the door a little bit harder open, he heard a pop and then a flame. He felt something come on him. He backed up, pushed the door shut and then went to seek help," Hilger said.
Laurino was taken to the hospital but suffered no injuries.
Hilger said they are investigating the incident as arson.
"When you first come upon this, you think it's a revenge type factor, that somebody may have had some grievance with this individual," he said.
And he said it was definitely intentional.
"That's what whoever set the device wanted to happen," Hilger said.
Lincoln Police said Laurino reported vandalism to his truck on Tuesday.
Police say he found graffiti written on the driver's side of the cab which read "biker trash." They continue to investigate along with the fire department.
Crete Carrier officials said they were contacted by the FBI because a chemical device was involved.
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