Gardner reported to the Chicago Tribune over Fitzpatrick's cell phone that he had inspected the tank, and that it was nearly full. Paul Gardner of the Effingham Police Department to inspect the bus's septic tank to prove that he could not have emptied it. įitzpatrick, who was in Effingham, Illinois, at the time, instructed Sgt. A publicist for the Dave Matthews Band issued a statement saying the band's management had determined that every one of its buses was parked at the time of the incident. In a phone interview, Fitzpatrick denied to a Chicago Tribune reporter that he had dumped the waste, asserting that he was parked in front of the band's hotel at the time. On August 10, bus driver Jerry Fitzpatrick, who drove for the band, was identified as the owner of the bus's license plate. On August 9, the Chicago Architecture Foundation released a statement that a witness had recorded license plate information, which they had turned over to the police as evidence. Immediately following the incident, the Chicago Police Department said they were investigating the incident but did not yet consider it a crime. The boat's deck was swabbed by its crew, and service was resumed for its scheduled 3 p.m. Some of the passengers suffered nausea and vomiting as a result of exposure to the human waste. The liquid human waste went into passengers' eyes, mouths, hair, and onto clothing and personal belongings, many of which were soaked. The liquid waste was brownish yellow in color, and had a foul, offensive odor. According to the Illinois Attorney General, passengers aboard included persons with disabilities, elderly, a pregnant woman, a small child, and an infant. Five passengers went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for testing. The boat immediately returned to its dock, where all passengers were issued refunds. Roughly two-thirds of the 120 passengers aboard the tour boat were soaked. While passing under the bridge, the boat received the full contents of the tank on the seats of its open-roof terrace. Chicago Architecture Foundation tour of the Chicago River. Passenger boat Chicago's Little Lady was hosting the 1 p.m. On Sunday, August 8, 2004, at 1:18 p.m., Wohl was alone in Tinsley's bus and driving to a downtown hotel when he emptied the bus' blackwater tank as it crossed the metal grates of the Kinzie Street bridge. Riveted grating allows rain, snow, and other liquids to pass through, removing the need for complicated drainage systems, to salt the bridge deck during snow, and assuring it does not ice over in wintry weather. Most Chicago bridges feature riveted grating, which is used for its strength and anti-slip properties.

The Chicago River is visible through the holes in the grate.

The riveted grate surface of the bridge allows liquids to pass through.

Tragedy dave matthews family