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[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][url=""]Rock band probed in sewage dump
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[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]August 10, 2004[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]BY ANNIE SWEENEY AND FRAN SPIELMAN Staff Reporters <!-- Empty line is needed --> <noscript> </noscript>
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<!--publication CST -->[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] <!--pub_section NWS page 8 last modified 8/9/04 10:29 PM-->[/font]
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[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Chicago Police are investigating whether tour buses for a rock band dumped raw sewage from the Kinzie Street bridge onto people aboard a popular architecture boat tour Sunday.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It was terrible,'' said Holly Agra, president of Chicago's First Lady Cruises. "Everybody is a victim except the people on the bus, the people who did that. It's unforgettable. I find it hard to believe it was an accident. We certainly would like the owners and operators to step forward without us having to chase them down.''[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]More than 100 people were aboard the packed Chicago's First Lady at 1:20 p.m. Sunday when the sewage was dumped from two tour buses passing overhead, witnesses told police. The sewage splashed onto the boat and into the eyes and mouths of tourists. The boat immediately returned to the dock, and five people went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for tests and treatment, police said
[/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="290"><tbody><tr><td width="5">
</td></tr></tbody></table> <!-- end sidebar --> [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]On Monday, Agra's husband saw a bus that matched the description and had a license plate very similar to the one on the bridge at the Peninsula Hotel. He called police, and Sgt. Ray Mazzola of the city's Marine Unit picked it up from there. He interviewed the driver of the bus, who said he had not dropped any sewage into the river. Mazzola even inspected the sewage tank of the bus.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"That's what we're here for,'' said Mazzola. "I wanted to be sure it wasn't him. We are currently contacting the people that would be responsible for the tour.''[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The driver was one of five with the band -- which the Sun-Times is not naming because no charges have been filed. Mazzola placed a call to the tour's director, who was going to check with his other drivers, who have since left the city.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Mazzola said the sewage tanks are under the bus and, if opened, could be emptied through the grates of the bridge.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It's the perfect spot for this -- only he didn't know there was a boatload of people underneath.''[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The company refunded the $25 cost of the ticket to the 120 people on board, paid cab fare for people who went to the hospital for tests and has already replaced some clothing for tourists who were doused.[/font]
[/font][/url] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]August 10, 2004[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]BY ANNIE SWEENEY AND FRAN SPIELMAN Staff Reporters <!-- Empty line is needed --> <noscript> </noscript>
[/font]
<!--publication CST -->[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] <!--pub_section NWS page 8 last modified 8/9/04 10:29 PM-->[/font]
<!--deck Police investigating group's buses after tour boat splashed -->
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Chicago Police are investigating whether tour buses for a rock band dumped raw sewage from the Kinzie Street bridge onto people aboard a popular architecture boat tour Sunday.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It was terrible,'' said Holly Agra, president of Chicago's First Lady Cruises. "Everybody is a victim except the people on the bus, the people who did that. It's unforgettable. I find it hard to believe it was an accident. We certainly would like the owners and operators to step forward without us having to chase them down.''[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]More than 100 people were aboard the packed Chicago's First Lady at 1:20 p.m. Sunday when the sewage was dumped from two tour buses passing overhead, witnesses told police. The sewage splashed onto the boat and into the eyes and mouths of tourists. The boat immediately returned to the dock, and five people went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for tests and treatment, police said
[/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="290"><tbody><tr><td width="5">
</td></tr></tbody></table> <!-- end sidebar --> [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]On Monday, Agra's husband saw a bus that matched the description and had a license plate very similar to the one on the bridge at the Peninsula Hotel. He called police, and Sgt. Ray Mazzola of the city's Marine Unit picked it up from there. He interviewed the driver of the bus, who said he had not dropped any sewage into the river. Mazzola even inspected the sewage tank of the bus.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"That's what we're here for,'' said Mazzola. "I wanted to be sure it wasn't him. We are currently contacting the people that would be responsible for the tour.''[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The driver was one of five with the band -- which the Sun-Times is not naming because no charges have been filed. Mazzola placed a call to the tour's director, who was going to check with his other drivers, who have since left the city.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Mazzola said the sewage tanks are under the bus and, if opened, could be emptied through the grates of the bridge.[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It's the perfect spot for this -- only he didn't know there was a boatload of people underneath.''[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The company refunded the $25 cost of the ticket to the 120 people on board, paid cab fare for people who went to the hospital for tests and has already replaced some clothing for tourists who were doused.[/font]