Trucker Charged in Dumping of Gasoline Alongside Route 14

A truck driver who allegedly dumped the contents of a nearly empty gasoline tanker off the side of the Antelope Valley Freeway in the Santa Clarita Valley Friday has been arrested and charged with a felony violation of state hazardous waste laws, the California Highway Patrol said.

Randy Greg, 29, a driver for Western Highway Distributors Co. of Sacramento, said he dumped the gas to avoid paper work at a nearby disposal station, according to highway patrolman Ron Beadles.

Inspectors from the state Departments of Health, and Fish and Game are investigating the incident, said Beadles. Greg was also charged with illegal possession of a loaded semi-automatic weapon, Beadles said. He was jailed at the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station in lieu of $5,000 bail. Arraignment is scheduled Monday in Newhall Municipal Court.

CHP spokesman Harry Ingold said illegal dumping by truckers has long been rumored to be commonplace near freeways in the Santa Clarita Valley. He said Greg’s arrest was one of the first since a new state law made a felony of the offense.