TANKER TRUCK DRIVER BUSTED DRAG RACING

An alert Slidell police officer got more than a little concerned when he spotted an 18-wheel gasoline tanker drag racing with a Honda Accord through the streets of Slidell Tuesday night.

The officer managed to stop the vehicles after the race reached speeds of 80 mph along Old Spanish Trail. The tanker truck turned out to be empty, and both drivers were cited for drag racing, authorities said Wednesday.


Craig Smith, the driver, told police he was racing against his cousin, Brandon Tanks, when he sped past a police officer while turning from Pontchartrain Drive onto Third Street, Slidell Police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said.

The race apparently began shortly before 8:40 p.m., when 19-year-old Tanks and 33-year-old Smith were bragging about the speed of their vehicles, Foltz said. Smith boasted that his truck could outpace Smith's Honda Accord and challenged him to a race, he said.

Detective Daniel Seuzeneau was stopped on Third Street when the tanker blew past him on it's way to Old Spanish Trail, followed by the Honda, Foltz said. He caught up with them as they headed toward Interstate 10 and pulled them over near the Waffle House, he said.

Smith, of Kenner, initially told Seuzeneau that he was just driving fast, but confessed to racing in the 18-wheeler after Tanks, of Slidell, told the detective they had been in a race, Foltz said.

Smith told investigators that he had been driving trucks for seven years and "had never done anything like this before," Foltz said.

Both men were issued citations for drag racing.


An alert Slidell police officer got more than a little concerned when he spotted an 18-wheel gasoline tanker drag racing with a Honda Accord through the streets of Slidell Tuesday night.

The officer managed to stop the vehicles after the race reached speeds of 80 mph along Old Spanish Trail. The tanker truck turned out to be empty, and both drivers were cited for drag racing, authorities said Wednesday.
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Craig Smith, the driver, told police he was racing against his cousin, Brandon Tanks, when he sped past a police officer while turning from Pontchartrain Drive onto Third Street, Slidell Police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said.

The race apparently began shortly before 8:40 p.m., when 19-year-old Tanks and 33-year-old Smith were bragging about the speed of their vehicles, Foltz said. Smith boasted that his truck could outpace Smith's Honda Accord and challenged him to a race, he said.

Detective Daniel Seuzeneau was stopped on Third Street when the tanker blew past him on it's way to Old Spanish Trail, followed by the Honda, Foltz said. He caught up with them as they headed toward Interstate 10 and pulled them over near the Waffle House, he said.

Smith, of Kenner, initially told Seuzeneau that he was just driving fast, but confessed to racing in the 18-wheeler after Tanks, of Slidell, told the detective they had been in a race, Foltz said.

Smith told investigators that he had been driving trucks for seven years and "had never done anything like this before," Foltz said.

Both men were issued citations for drag racing.




An alert Slidell police officer got more than a little concerned when he spotted an 18-wheel gasoline tanker drag racing with a Honda Accord through the streets of Slidell Tuesday night.

The officer managed to stop the vehicles after the race reached speeds of 80 mph along Old Spanish Trail. The tanker truck turned out to be empty, and both drivers were cited for drag racing, authorities said Wednesday.


Craig Smith, the driver, told police he was racing against his cousin, Brandon Tanks, when he sped past a police officer while turning from Pontchartrain Drive onto Third Street, Slidell Police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said.

The race apparently began shortly before 8:40 p.m., when 19-year-old Tanks and 33-year-old Smith were bragging about the speed of their vehicles, Foltz said. Smith boasted that his truck could outpace Smith's Honda Accord and challenged him to a race, he said.

Detective Daniel Seuzeneau was stopped on Third Street when the tanker blew past him on it's way to Old Spanish Trail, followed by the Honda, Foltz said. He caught up with them as they headed toward Interstate 10 and pulled them over near the Waffle House, he said.

Smith, of Kenner, initially told Seuzeneau that he was just driving fast, but confessed to racing in the 18-wheeler after Tanks, of Slidell, told the detective they had been in a race, Foltz said.

Smith told investigators that he had been driving trucks for seven years and "had never done anything like this before," Foltz said.

Both men were issued citations for drag racing.