Tour bus dumps 800 pounds of waste on Chicago boat
Dave Matthews Band bus waste dump horrifies Chicago boat passengers
If you’re having dinner, apologies in advance. A shocking simulation has revealed what transpired when a band’s tour bus accidentally dumped 800 pounds of human waste onto a sightseeing boat.
For those on the boat, it was a nightmare. But what exactly unfolded?
YouTuber Zack D. Films recently explained the incident with a revolting simulation. Here’s what happened:
On 8 August 2004, a Dave Matthews Band tour bus was travelling between shows in Wisconsin. The band was staying at Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel, using five coaches for transportation.
A Tour Bus Belonging To Dave Matthews Band Dumped An Estimated 800 Pounds Of Human Waste From The Bus' Blackwater Tank Through The Kinzie Street Bridge In Chicago Onto An Open-Top Passenger Sightseeing Boat Sailing On The Chicago River Below"
Short movie automatically generated… pic.twitter.com/PlvFc9GkUb
— Roope Rainisto (@rainisto) September 8, 2024
One of these buses, without any band members on board, made an alarming dump over the Kinzie Street Bridge. Driver Stefan Wohl decided to empty the coach’s blackwater tank while in traffic on the Chicago bridge.
Unbeknownst to Wohl, the bridge had gaps allowing the waste to escape. Unfortunately, there was activity beneath the bridge.
Chicago’s Little Lady, a tourist boat offering city tours on water, was passing underneath at the time. Filled with passengers, waste landed on the boat’s open-roof terrace, soaking nearly 3/4 of the 120 passengers on board.
The Illinois Attorney General described the passengers’ ordeal: “The liquid waste was brownish yellow in color and had a foul, offensive odor. The liquid human waste went into passengers’ eyes, mouths, hair, and onto clothing and personal belongings, many of which were soaked. Some passengers suffered nausea and vomiting from exposure to the human waste.”
Wohl pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and discharging contaminants causing water pollution. He was fined $10,000, sentenced to 150 hours of community service, and given an 18-month probation period.
The simulation of the incident, initially uploaded to YouTube by Zack D. Films, has gone viral on Twitter. The internet finds it revolting. “I would’ve been sick to my stomach; I don’t even wanna eat,” one person exclaimed.
Following the incident, the Dave Matthews Band paid the State of Illinois $200,000 in a settlement and an additional $50,000 each to the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Chicago River.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Dave Matthews Band bus incident – On August 8, 2004, a tour bus belonging to the Dave Matthews Band dumped human waste from its blackwater tank onto a Chicago River boat, causing an environmental scandal.(read more)
- Block Club Chicago recounts the infamous incident where a Dave Matthews Band tour bus dumped 800 pounds of human waste on a river cruise in Chicago, 19 years ago today, marking a day of foul surprise and legal consequences.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened with the Dave Matthews Band tour bus incident?
In 2004, a tour bus dumped 800 pounds of human waste onto a sightseeing boat in Chicago.
Why did the tour bus dump waste on the boat?
The bus driver emptied the blackwater tank while on the Kinzie Street Bridge, unaware of gaps in the bridge.
Were any band members on the bus during the incident?
No, none of the Dave Matthews Band members were on the bus at the time.
What were the consequences for the bus driver?
The driver was fined $10,000, sentenced to 150 hours of community service, and given 18 months probation.
How did the Dave Matthews Band respond to the incident?
The band settled by paying $200,000 to Illinois and $50,000 each to the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Chicago River.
