Trucker skips on $1,022 fill-up, could face felony theft charge

Authorities say a trucker pumped 261 gallons into the tank gave false payment data.

The Associated Press

4/11/2008

SALINA, Kan. — A felony fuel skip?

Police in Salina, Kan., report that very thing happened at a truck stop along Interstate 70 Wednesday night.

A trucker pumped 261 gallons of diesel fuel into his rig's tanks at a cost of $1,022.

But by the time the cashier found that the payment data the trucker provided was false, the truck and its driver were long gone.

The high price of fuel made the theft a felony case because the amount exceeds $1,000.

Deputy Saline Police Chief Carson Mansfield said the driver provided bogus information through the intercom at the diesel fuel pumps to a clerk at Petro 2 truck stop.