Thread: 'Speed' Prank Shuts Down D.C. Parkway

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news...1&floc=NW_5-L1


McLEAN, Va. (AP) - A motorist playing a prank that appeared to be inspired by the movie ``Speed'' led a trucker to believe he was carrying explosives Monday on a major highway outside Washington.

The trucker was driving on the Capital Beltway when he ``had people pull up next to him and tell him that if his truck slowed below a certain speed the truck would explode,'' said Sgt. J.R. Braun of the Virginia State Police.

The driver called 911, and police directed him onto the more secluded George Washington Memorial Parkway, where trucks are normally banned.

The parkway was closed for three hours while authorities searched the tractor-trailer. No explosives were found and no charges were filed.

``The individual did everything he possibly could to cooperate with police officers,'' said Sgt. Scott Fear, a spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, which has jurisdiction on the parkway. ``We believe that he had reasonable concern that there could be an explosive.''

In the movie ``Speed,'' a bus is rigged to explode if it goes below 50 mph.



05/19/03 17:28

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I am sorry -- would you believe someone pulling up on the side of your truck if they told you they rigged it with explosives ? When, How, ????