Seattle Post-Intelligencer
BAINBRIDGE A bomb scare on a state ferry caused an
evacuation and a four-hour shutdown of Seattle-Bainbridge
ferry service this week, but the suspicious duffel bag that
started the commotion turned out to be harmless.
A bomb squad used an X-ray machine to rule out that the suspicious
bag found in a trash can on the Wenatchee's car deck contained
explosives. It contained nothing but "personal effects,"
Washington State Patrol Trooper Glen Tyrrell said.
While authorities were assessing the situation, the ferry
Tacoma was in Seattle ready to depart for the island. It was
rerouted to Kingston, Patterson said, to accommodate those
folks who needed to cross the Sound.
Kitsap Transit also dispatched buses to the Kingston terminal
to assist foot passengers who might have been left in a lurch.
The Wenatchee went back into service on the route at 4:15
p.m., Patterson said. Because those with cars had mostly driven
to alternative terminals, the afternoon backlog cleared as
soon as that ferry sailed.