Pennsylvania State Police said Weinhofer first rear-ended another vehicle a little before 3.30pm. The other vehicle had passengers, but no one was injured, said Trooper Nathan Branosky, spokesman for the state police Troop M based in Bethlehem. Weinhofer took off and continued driving south. A few minutes later, airport police said a detective was notified of a breach on the airport’s fence line near gate 28. A black pick-up truck drove through the chain-link fence that had a “No Trespassing” sign on it, causing about US$2500 in damage, police said. A maintenance manager followed the truck as it drove onto airport property, across the airfield and taxiway C. The truck then travelled through the Runway Safety Area and along runway 6-24, where the truck came within 150 feet (45.7m) of striking an Allegiant plane taking off with 171 people on board, according to court papers.