Friday, August 31, 2007

Don't pay the ferryman

A man tried to save money on a seven-hour ferry ride by hiding his father and two children, aged eight and ten, in the trunk of his car.

The man was arrested Monday aboard a ship sailing from Palma on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca to Barcelona, and has been charged with reckless endangerment, the National Police in Barcelona, Spain, said.

According to the company that runs the ferries, Balearia, the man stood to save about 139 Euros or £94 by having his family ride in the trunk.

He was identified only as a 37-year-old native of Latvia.

The two boys and their grandfather, aged 66, spent several hours crammed into the trunk of the car, parked in the hold of the ferry in very high temperatures and with poor ventilation, until police detected their presence.

A police official said it was not clear if they called out for help or security guards saw the car rocking.

The detainee said he had acted to save money on the trip, the official said.

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