Seventeen abandoned automobiles at the Pittsburgh International Airport, including a 2016 Cadillac Escalade Multipurpose Vehicle, are part of an online auction being held online Thursday, Sept. 24 by Joe R. Pyle Complete Auction & Realty Service of Shinnston.
This is the sixth year Joe R. Pyle has conducted the auction for the Allegheny County Airport Authority, but the first time the event will be held exclusively online. Overall, it’s the 10th year for the event.
“The past couple of years online bidding was held in tandem with live, in-person bidding at the airport, but this year will be online-only as a result of safety and health precautions,” said Matt Neistein, manager, communications for the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
Neistein said last year there were 1,000 in-person bidders and 300 online, the annual auction’s biggest event ever.
Besides the Escalade, some of the vehicles for sale include a 2012 BMW 3, 2006 Nissan Murano, 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, 2009 Chrysler Town & Country van, a 2004 Honda Accord, and a 2010 Chevrolet Express van.
Ethan Moore, assistant general manager of Joe R. Pyle, could not comment on the specifics of the auction, but said there is a lot of interest and a lot of pre-auction bids.
Neistein said the vehicles that will be sold Thursday have been abandoned during the last year or so.
“Once they are left in our parking lot for 45 days, they are towed and we begin a process in conjunction with (Allegheny) county police and the state (Pennsylvania) Department of Transportation of trying to contact the owners,” he said. “If the owners are unable to be reached, or if they decline to pay any applicable fees and claim their vehicles, then the vehicles go up for auction.”
Money generated from the sale of the vehicles goes to the Allegheny County Airport Authority Charitable Foundation, which helps support Pittsburgh International Airport’s military lounge, Art in the Airport, aviation scholarships and workforce development.
The auction begins at 6 p.m. Thursday. For more information, go to www.joerpyleauctions.com.
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