Photo courtesy of the Glasgow Water Company
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The Glasgow Water Company lost a major piece of construction equipment after its batteries were stolen and it was engulfed in flames, Jeff Reed, finance and customer service manager for the water company, said.
The incident occurred on Caney Fork Road, south of Glasgow. Reed said, the equipment was there to help fix a water line break that occurred due to the severe storms that passed through Glasgow and Barren County in late June.
“Because of all the storms we had a water line, where it crosses the creek, had gotten washed out,” Reed said. “So they were relaying that water line across the creek.”
According to him, the water company received a call on Saturday, July 8, around 5 a.m. that the equipment was on fire. The Austin Tracy Fire Department responded. It appeared the wires connecting to the Caterpillar-brand batteries were severed and the gas cap was removed.
“Looked like the battery cables had been cut,” Reed said. “It looked like it was very suspicious of foul play.”
Reed said the equipment was a total loss and would cost approximately $240,000 to purchase a replacement.
Currently, the company has all the paperwork turned in to the insurance company. As a result, Reed said, the company’s insurance cost would increase.
“We’re hoping whoever did that gets caught and has to pay some sort of restitution,” Reed said.
Despite this, Reed said, the water company will be conducting “business as usual” with only minor setbacks on the big construction projects as they are having to use backhoes and smaller equipment on jobs.
“That takes our biggest digging piece of equipment out of our fleet right now,” Reed said. “Obviously if we have an emergency on a large water line where we had to fix it we’ll rent one, borrow one, we’ll get a hold of one somewhere. We’ll go on business as usual, but any large construction project…, it does make those more difficult.”
Reed said they reported the incident to the Barren County Sheriff’s Office. Currently, the investigation is ongoing. People are encouraged to call 270-651-2771 if they have any information regarding this incident.
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