For further information please contact: Captain J. T. "Tim" Hull
573-526-6115
Q5076
June 7, 2007

Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, today said the Patrol will assist by providing information to the Public Service Commission in their new investigation into the Ameren Taum Sauk collapse.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted an extensive investigation of the Ameren Taum Sauk disaster and presented a 2,000-page report to Attorney General Jay Nixon. The Patrol is extending its full cooperation to the Public Service Commission in their new investigation into the Ameren Taum Sauk collapse and we will provide the information our investigators provided to Attorney General Jay Nixon.

“Let me be clear to those who have been critical of the Highway Patrol for not identifying the unknown individual who moved water level security probes before investigators arrived on the scene: We sought this person’s identity but could not compel cooperation. In point of fact: the Patrol does not have subpoena power. Our responsibility in this is to conduct a thorough investigation and provide this information to the criminal prosecutor in the case who makes the decision to pursue charges.”

“We are hopeful that through the subpoena powers of the Public Service Commission they can compel testimony under oath and find the person responsible for tampering with the water level security probes from the list of suspects we identified in our report. Those suspects include anyone who had potential access to the water level security probes and a motive to tamper with this evidence. Should the Public Service Commission inquiry reveal any additional information that might assist in perfecting any criminal charges against any individuals the Patrol stands ready to assist in that regard.”