1982 Caldecott Tunnel Fire and KFRC

[HLeae]

According to reports, the KFRC Street Team, led by an RKO "daughter," along with DJs Harry Nelston, Don Sainte-Johnn, and Bill Lee, were on the verge of the explosion. But is this story based on facts? Could it be that the intern recklessly backed out of the tunnel, performing an unlawful driving maneuver just before the eruption?

"

 

[Weiserguy]

According to reports, the KFRC Street Team, led by an RKO "daughter," along with DJs Harry Nelston, Don Sainte-Johnn, and Bill Lee, were on the verge of the explosion. But is this story based on facts? Could it be that the intern recklessly backed out of the tunnel, performing an unlawful driving maneuver just before the eruption?

"

What reports? Would you be more specific? (And by the way, it's Harry Nelson.)

 

[michael hagerty]

The crash that ignited the explosion happened at 12:20 a.m. on a Wednesday morning (April 7, 1982).

No idea what the Street Team and three jocks would have been doing in that neck of the woods at that time. Lee would have just gotten off the air at 11:00, handing off to Shannon. Sainte-Johnn would have been due on the air at 2:00 a.m. Harry was a utility guy on that tour of duty at KFRC---weekends and fill-ins.

Still, without traffic, the Caldecott is only about a 20 minute drive from 415 Bush Street, so that doesn't rule anything out.

In the 70s and 80s, a lot of KFRC jocks (Lee included) lived in Walnut Creek, so the Caldecott Tunnel was part of the commute.

I'll ask Sainte-Johnn.

 

[michael hagerty]

Could it be that the intern recklessly backed out of the tunnel, performing an unlawful driving maneuver just before the eruption?

If so, it saved four lives, and I guarantee you that intern wasn't alone.

 

[michael hagerty]

According to reports, the KFRC Street Team, led by an RKO "daughter," along with DJs Harry Nelston, Don Sainte-Johnn, and Bill Lee, were on the verge of the explosion. But is this story based on facts? Could it be that the intern recklessly backed out of the tunnel, performing an unlawful driving maneuver just before the eruption?

"

So, Don Sainte-Johnn tells me that he wasn't in the car, that it was Harry and Bill. Bill Lee's alive, but I don't know him (I'm a huge fan, but we've never communicated). If someone does know Bill and wants to get the story from him, have at it.

My question is why we should care about the "unlawful driving maneuver"? You looking to find a now-61-year-old woman and write her a ticket for a traffic violation 41 years ago?

 

[michael hagerty]

So, Don Sainte-Johnn tells me that he wasn't in the car, that it was Harry and Bill. Bill Lee's alive, but I don't know him (I'm a huge fan, but we've never communicated). If someone does know Bill and wants to get the story from him, have at it.

Update---don't bother Bill. Sainte-Johnn just had a conversation with him, and Bill was dropped off at home prior to the tunnel.

 

[Yabadabado1]

According to reports, the KFRC Street Team, led by an RKO "daughter," along with DJs Harry Nelston, Don Sainte-Johnn, and Bill Lee, were on the verge of the explosion. But is this story based on facts? Could it be that the intern recklessly backed out of the tunnel, performing an unlawful driving maneuver just before the eruption?

"

"Let's see......should I violate the law by backing out of the tunnel or obey it and end up dying as a crispy critter in the explosion? Oh gosh, I can't have such an embarrassing stain on my driving record......death it is!

Heck, if that was me I'd be doing 110 mph backwards and complaining about all the slowpoke drivers in my way.