Man Drove Across Tarmac, Ploughed Through Baggage Claim, and Crashed Into Alamo Rental Car

A truck crashed through an Sarasota airport perimeter fence, drove across the tarmac, and ploughed right through a cinderblock wall on Thursday morning. It slammed into one of the airport’s three baggage carousels and came to rest after hitting the shared Alamo-National Car Rental counter.

The rental car employees weren’t hurt, which is great because the guy in the truck is going to need a car once he’s medically released and free of the penal system.

And as a basic reminder that nearly everything that happens is being videotaped, here’s footage of the incident.

The driver has past arrests “for drugs, DUI and driving on suspended licenses” but appears to have been clean since 2010.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. That one wall on the side of the National counter really saved the day. That vehicle stopped cold when it hit that wall.

  2. Who is the genius that edited the video so we watch the end before the beginning?

    And why didn’t the woman behind the National counter jump to her left out of the way?

    Luckily nobody was waiting for their bags and got hurt.

  3. @David: “And why didn’t the woman behind the National counter jump to her left out of the way?”

    Initial instinct is to take cover, looks like she made that decision in a split second. Right before the truck hits, you can see her run a bit to the left. Not sure you or I would behave any differently on first instinct.

  4. The truck barreling through the baggage claim area makes me think the Kool-Aid man had lost his mind.

  5. Landed at SRQ airport Friday evening and the area is boarded up with “under construction” signs. Lots of passengers snapping photos.

  6. Inquiring minds want to know if a vehicle crash at the baggage carousel would invalidate the 20 minute baggage delivery guarantee offered by Delta and Alaska Airlines.

    Delta Airlines says, “We’re committed to providing you with reliable and on-time baggage service every time you fly. That’s why we’re backing your bags with a guarantee: if your checked bag doesn’t arrive at the carousel in 20 minutes or less after any domestic flight, you are eligible to receive 2,500 bonus miles.”

    Alaska Airlines says, “If your bags are not at baggage claim within 20 minutes of your plane’s arrival at the gate, we’ll offer you a $25 discount code for use on a future Alaska Airlines flight, or 2,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ bonus miles.”

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