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Monday, June 23, 2008 Elderly Woman Drives
Through Airport Fence By Tom Murray WTMJ-TV Ch 4 (NBC), Milwaukee (WI) MILWAUKEE - An unusual security breach at Mitchell
International Airport. An 82-year-old woman drove her car through a security
fence, toward an active runway and was intercepted by sheriff's deputies. The driver told TODAY'S TMJ4 she blames what happened on
heavy rain. She said she could not see. Other drivers watched the Oldsmobile leave Layton Avenue,
blast through the fence and on to airport grounds. "There was a car on the grass spinning around in
circles," recounted witness Bill West. "Then it tried to go back this
way out of the airport." The 82-year-old driver from St. Francis, her dog and her
85-year-old friend were inside the car. The driver was heading home after
taking her friend to a cemetery for a visit, according to the Milwaukee County
Sheriff's Department. The ladies drove to a service road inside the fence
perimeter, but never made it to a runway and never put any planes in danger,
said airport spokesperson Ryan McAdams. The driver told investigators she knew something went
wrong but was unaware she was driving on airport grounds. Deputies surrounded
the car and escorted the elderly women out through a gate. "You could hardly see the car because they were
completely surrounded by sheriff's vehicles," West told TODAY'S TMJ4
reporter Tom Murray. West said deputies reached the car minutes after it
penetrated the fence. The front right tire blew during this bizarre breach of
security and the Oldsmobile had to be towed. During the off-camera conversation, the driver said she
wants people to know that no one is hurt and she is doing fine. Sheriff's deputies ticketed the woman for losing control
of her car. She will have to retake her drivers test and pass to keep her license. Airport officials never went into the alert mode that
stops air traffic. McAdams claims they knew right away this was some sort of
accident and was not a security threat. |
