Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Well, if ever there was a 911 truck, this is it's story: Diablo Canyon Nuclear plant. Unit one has been down for generator rotor replacement with lots of folks contracted in to help out. This is how the night starts out. 1630- a security supervisor spots a person on the rocks, where a person shouldn't be. Sounds a security alert when the guy disappears. Word from the Sheriff is that there's been a Hit and Run in the state park to our north, and the driver can't be found. 1900 and the start of my shift. Shift supervisor announces that two hilos are inbound- one from Santa Barbara (FBI) and one from Fresno (Homeland Security) for thermal imaging search. 1935 Fire alarm sounds- report is that a contractor's truck drove off the cliff, no injuries. Yes- it's one of ours, a 2001 turbodiesel. After getting off work, our guy set his lunch box and briefcase (and wallet) in truck, reached in and started engine for warm-up while he changed boots. The clutch interlock had been defeated so when the engine turned over (transmission in reverse) the engine caught and the truck lurched back knocking the guy down as it backed over an 85' cliff into the rocks below, just above the waterline... landing on it's wheels... engine running, tires spinning, headlights on, and windshield wipers flapping. Our industrial fire brigade showed up and made ready to rappel down to the truck, only to be halted by our plant management- "too much risk for the personnel". That means NO Tow truck for recovery. (Remember, we've got the FBI and Homeland Security cutting holes in the sky overhead, thinking invasion). After two hours, the thing finally caught fire and died. Not a good night made worse by a decision from a "higher up". It's 0330 now and guess what- still no "intruder", and the Hit and Run guy was a surfer who didn't know he hit another car, and turned himself in when he found out... and the burned out hulk still sits where it landed. I'm leaving my clutch interlock in place.
Greg
Greg
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