UPDATE: Evansdale Man Arrested In Waterloo Tanker Truck Crash
Authorities have arrested an Evansdale man on charges connected to the theft of a fuel-filled tanker truck that crashed into a Waterloo home and forced the evacuation of the surrounding neighborhood.
Waterloo police said 25-year-old Dakota Luck was taken into custody Monday after he was discharged from a local hospital. Authorities have charged Luck with first-degree theft, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, a simulated explosive violation, reckless driving and other traffic-related charges.
Luck is accused of stealing a diesel-filled Kwik Star/Kwik Trip tanker from the company's fuel blending facility at 2122 W. Ridgeway Ave. on Aug. 20. The semi later slammed into a two-story house at 1420 E. Ridgeway Ave. The rig overturned and spilled thousands of gallons of diesel fuel, forcing an evacuation of nearby homes.
According to Leibold, a man sleeping inside the damaged house escaped injury, while Luck had to be extricated from the semi. Waterloo police said Luck was naked when rescuers freed him from the wreckage. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Officers were initially dispatched to the fuel blending facility around 6:15 AM to investigate a report that someone crashed a semi cab into a wooded area near Sergeant Road (U.S Highway 63) and Greyhound Drive. According to police, the driver -- later identified as Luck -- was reportedly acting erratically at the time of the accident. Witnesses told police that Luck took his clothes off, then jumped into the fuel-filled tanker and drove off, authorities said.
According to Leibold, officers were told about the stolen tanker while responding to the initial crash. He said police checked the area and spotted the semi traveling on Ridgeway Ave. at a high-rate of speed near Kimball Ave. An accident report indicates that officers saw the rig hit a vehicle near the Hammond Ave. intersection. The driver then appeared to lose control and struck three additional vehicles, before overturning and slamming into the house.
The Waterloo Fire Rescue Hazard Materials Unit was called in to clean up the fuel spill. The accident closed a portion of Ridgeway Ave. for several days.
Waterloo police said the incident remains under investigation.