SALIX, Iowa -- Questionable statements about explosives made by a truck driver at a weigh station prompted public safety personnel to close an 8-mile portion of Interstate 29 for almost four hours Thursday -- the two-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
"He (the driver) was asked what he was hauling and he stated he had a load of explosives and that they could detonate at anytime. That raises some eyebrows," said Iowa Department of Transportation Capt. Lance Evans.
The driver of the semi, Alexey Artemenko, 34, of Foreston, Minn., made the statement during a routine vehicle inspection and questioning at around 11:30 a.m. at the southbound Department of Transportation scale house on I-29 near Salix, officials said.
"We really don't know why for sure he made that statement, but it just seemed like it was an inappropriate comment at an inappropriate time," said Evans, adding Artemenko may have made the statement to avoid inspections by DOT officers.
Artemenko was immediately detained, and DOT officials then contacted the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office, who soon arrived on scene.
Special Agent John Ticer of the state fire marshal's office said the decision to close a portion of the interstate and evacuate some construction workers from a home near the weigh station was in the interest of public safety from what was known at the time of Artemenko's alleged statements.
A Haz-Mat team and a bomb dog were then called to the scene to assist the search of the trailer.
"We did, during the course of the investigation, end up getting into the vehicle and into the trailer, and we did determine that there was no such explosives present that would constitute a danger to the public," Ticer said.
According to Lt. Rob Hansen, spokesperson for the Iowa State Patrol, officers obtained a bill of lading for the truck and the load did contain small arms, small-type explosives. Officials said the trailer also included various freight, including exercise equipment.
"Once they examined the trailer, there was no concern. It was being transported in a proper manner,' Hansen said.
Artemenko was arrested by the DOT and charged with a felony of making a false report. He is being held in the Woodbury County Jail.
Evans said Artemenko picked up the load in Minnesota and was heading to the West Coast, and that Artemenko works as an owner-operator.
Traffic from the interstate was rerouted from the Sloan and Port Neal exits to the two-lane State Road 970, also known as Old Highway 75, causing congestion and slow moving traffic. Adding to the crawl of traffic was a two-car accident just north of Sloan.
Evans said in the almost nine years he was worked at the DOT station in Salix this was the first instance of a person making an inappropriate comment that could jeopardize public safety.
"Obviously today is Sept. 11, but for the interest of public safety, if this comment would have been made May 11 or June 11, I think all of us here today would have took the exact same actions that we took today. Public safety is the issue and comments like that, regardless of what day of the week, month or year, we are binded by our jobs to take the action necessary to handle the situation," Evans said.
The Sioux City Fire Department Haz-Mat Team, Woodbury County Sheriff's Office, Woodbury County Emergency Operations Center, Iowa State Patrol, Sloan Police Department and Sergeant Bluff Police Department assisted at the scene.
Iowa State Patrol Trooper J.R. Mathis praised the numerous public safety personnel who responded to the incident and cooperated well with other agencies.
"With the situation with the world today and obviously with homeland security issues, the Iowa State Patrol and other law enforcement organizations take this and any threat very seriously and we will act upon those threats immediately without hesitation," Mathis said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Jesse Claeys can be reached at (712) 293-4221 or
[email protected]
