Story Archive

Liable to Result in a Stiff Fine

A van from the Thurston County (Wash.) Coroner’s Office, heading to the morgue after picking up a body, had a minor mishap as it drove through the streets of Olympia: the back came open and two gurneys rolled out onto the street. Two police officers happened to be nearby and secured the rolling beds; the one with the body strapped on was fine, they said, with no trauma to the corpse even though it came to rest in the middle of an intersection. They called the coroner’s office to come back for the cots, since the driver apparently didn’t notice his cargo was no longer there. Asked to comment, Coroner Gary Warnock said the van will be “tested and checked” to see if there was “a mechanical failure.” (RC/Olympia Olympian) ...Though checking and testing the driver is more likely to reveal the failure.