By the Salina Journal

SALINA -- A trailer full of liquid soap became unhitched from a semi as the rig was leaving a Salina truck stop Saturday after someone tampered with its locking mechanism, Salina police reported.

The semitrailer was pulling out of the parking lot at Bosselman's Travel Plaza, 1944 N. Ninth, about 2:50 p.m. when the trailer came unhitched and the fifth wheel locking mechanism hit the ground, said Lt. Scott Siemsen, criminal investigation commander with the Salina Police Department.

Siemsen said someone had apparently removed the fifth wheel latch pin while the driver was eating lunch between 2 and 2:50 p.m. and locked it back in the open position.

A tow truck was called to lift the front of the trailer, which was hauling 55-gallon drums of liquid soap, and reattach it to the semi, Siemsen said.

Damage was estimated at $900.