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Local history: The Great Edmonton Toll Plaza Robbery For the third shift, at 4 A.M., it was more than enough excitement when both sides of the toll plaza were robbed simultaneously. A story from Senior Quest Magazine, Edmonton, KY By Geniece Marcum Senior Quest recently carried an article about the Edmonton Toll Plaza once located on the Cumberland Parkway and it's employees who worked there through the '80s and into the '90s; before the name was changed to Louie B. Nunn Parkway and before the tolls were finally removed. The article seemed to stir up a host of memories for many, as each one looks back at their own unforgettable experiences while on duty there. There are many funny memories along with a few that were tragic and then there are those which could only be described as just plain hair-raising, such as the night of the toll gate robbery in 1980. This happened during a third shift about 4:30 a.m. during the lull before early morning traffic began to run. Only three collectors were on duty as usual with Janet Bell and the late Don Bastin working in the lanes and Wayne Edwards on relief in the Plaza building. Both sides of the parkway were robbed simultaneously and so smoothly and quickly was the job carried out that neither collector had any idea anything was amiss until suddenly each was faced with a masked figure entering their booths. At gunpoint the attendants were ordered to get out and run down the parkway. Janet remembers the incredulous "Now?" which was her first response to such a command. This whole thing was unreal, a toll collectors worst nightmare, but that gun was real enough she knew, and Janet didn't need a second prompting to hit the road. Her first inkling that Don was in trouble too, came as she was running away from the gate and heard the sound of someone running behind her. She recalls her terror that night, thinking it was the robber coming after her. But to her great relief, in the dim light, Janet saw Don on the opposite side of the road. Crossing over then, she joined him and the two continued their flight for at least a half mile, heading toward a rise in the road running east of the Plaza where they would be out of sight of the robbers. Only when they were safely over that rise did the collectors dare to stop and catch their breath. "I wasn't about to go back," says Janet,"Not knowing whether those awful people would still be there." So there they waited while time dragged by, not knowing what to expect next. It was probably along about then when Don realized he still had the clipboard from his booth, clutched tightly under one arm. He couldn't believe he had run all that distance without even knowing it was there. Seems that back at the Toll Gate before the robbery, he'd been busy filling out the shift log when someone pecked on the door of his booth. Thinking it was the relief, he unlatched the door without even looking around. When he did look, Don said he found himself looking straight down the barrel of a pistol, leveled at himself. When told to run, Don said he asked "Which way?" The choice was left to him, so he took to his heels running, in spite of the fact that not so long ago Don had undergone open heart surgery. When Wayne Edwards came out to give breaks, he couldn't believe his eyes at finding the lanes strangely deserted. Doors of the booths on both sides of the Parkway were left standing open, cash drawers emptied and Janet and Don were nowhere in sight. It was clear that someone had grabbed the cash and left there in a hurry, scattering money as they ran. But where were the attendants? What had happened to them? Fearing for their safety, Wayne quickly spread the alarm. He called Estill Hamilton first, waking him from a sound sleep, to tell him he reckoned the Toll Gate had been robbed. Money was scattered everywhere and he didn't know if they had taken Janet and Don with them or not, but they were nowhere to be found! Knowing that he must dress and get out there at once, Estill remembers instructing Wayne to call the police. But at that early hour of the morning and still half asleep, being told that two of the collectors were missing was like having a bombshell dropped in his lap! Hearing this message had so completely unnerved him, Estille said later, that he liked to have never gotten his britches on so he could leave the house! Everybody soon began descending upon the Toll Plaza, someone went out to help run the lanes until first shift could arrive and take over, while officers began a thorough search of the premises. They soon discovered where the robbers had waited on the overpass above the gate watching for hours undoubtedly for the perfect time to strike, then made a fast getaway. At that point though, no one at the Plaza was giving much thought to the robbers or the money. Their deep concern was what had happened to the collectors. So finally, after finishing their search for the robbers, Estille said one of the officers drove down the Parkway looking for any sign of the missing employees. He happened to head east in his search, and before he'd gone far he spotted them. They had begun edging their way back towards the top of the hill, hoping to see if the coast was clear yet. When the police car crossed over and pulled up beside them they gratefully climbed in for the ride back to the Toll Plaza. Everyone was overcome with relief, having the missing collectors returned safe and sound. It was a time for celebration and thankfulness, for in back of everyone's mind was the realization that the end of this ordeal could have been so much worse. Long after the robbery was history, during a late night break, Don shared the frustration that he'd never overcome the feeling of apprehension that now accompanied every third shift; that there might be a repeat performance by the robbers who had never been caught. It was a feeling I think, shared by every collector, even those who had not been on duty the night the robbery took place. This story was posted on 2007-03-12 11:19:37
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. (AD) - Many Reunion organizing efforts are also advertised in our REUNIONS category in our CM Classifeds. These are posted at a very low cost. See RATES & TERMS More articles from topic Local History:
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