Staff Reports
NS&D Monitor
10/23/2015
The Y-12 nuclear weapons plant, which has seemingly been a magnet for security incidents in recent years, experienced another headline-grabbing event before dawn Thursday when a man drove his car through the plant’s main security portal, crashed his vehicle beside a parking lot while fleeing guards, and then fled into the woods on foot – creating a lockdown situation at the Oak Ridge facility that lasted most of the morning.
Timothy D. Preston, a 34-year-old resident of nearby Clinton, Tenn., was arrested and charged with aggravated trespassing, trespassing by motor vehicle, felony vandalism, and driving while license revoked (third offense).
The incident began shortly before 6 a.m., and Preston was taken into custody around 7:40 a.m.
‘’At about 5:52 a.m., an individual who is not a Y-12 employee drove his vehicle through Y-12’s east portal gate without stopping for a badge check,” Bill Tindal, Y-12 site manager for contract operator Consolidated Nuclear Security, and Ken Freeman, CNS manager for safeguards and security, said in a message to Y-12 employees after the incident. “Y-12 Security personnel responded immediately and appropriately, engaging security protocols to stop the vehicle’s progress well before reaching site facilities.”
“As Y-12 security police officers responded, the driver crashed his vehicle and then fled on foot. The individual was apprehended by Y-12 security police and then arrested by the Oak Ridge Police Department,” according to the CNS executives.
According to the Oak Ridge Police Department, which responded to the incident and assisted Y-12 security: “After the crash, Mr. Preston fled on foot into a heavily wooded area inside the facility. Multiple Y-12 security and Oak Ridge police officers immediately responded and established containment inside and outside the perimeter of the facility.”
Police said Preston was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was then taken to the police station to be interviewed and later transported to a county jail, where he was being held in lieu of $15,000 bond. The ORPD news release said, “Based on statements made by Timothy Preston and further investigation, additional charges may be pending.”
The National Nuclear Security Administration said there was no risk to the plant’s nuclear operations as a result of the incident.
Y-12 was on lockdown throughout the morning, and personnel already inside the plant were told to remain in place under a “curfew” order. Hundreds of other employees were turned away at the entrance or told — via email — to remain at home until further notification.
Regarding the traffic backup and other difficulties, Tindal and Freeman wrote: “We fully recognize that it is frustrating to make the drive to work and then not be able to gain site access, but safety and security were our paramount focus as we dealt with the situation. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding of this situation and the trying morning it made for all.”
Despite the difficulties, the security systems functioned as intended, they said.
