Quote:
Originally Posted by matt602
It's not just a work platform that they hit. Apparently they were driving with the dump box up and actually hit the structural girders of the bridge, in addition to the work scaffolding. That's why they're concerned about the structural integrity. One of the girders was ripped right off the bridge and totaled a different truck in addition.
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From the photos I've seen, I think the girders that fell on the other truck were holding up the temporary work platform. Amazing that nobody was killed - that truck's driver was hurt, but if a girder had come down on a car there could have been fatalities. EDIT: the truck driver who was hurt is lucky to be alive, looking at this image:
Source
The structural members that were hit don't look like they support the bridge weight, but they do brace the arches which hold up the roadway. Hopefully there was no serious damage to that end of the arches from the stress of the collision (broken rivets, cracked steel). They'll need lots of time to inspect it all, never mind repair the damage or put up temporary bracing.
The dump truck driver has been charged with impaired driving. I can't imagine that will be the only charge.
This bridge opened in 1958, and while there have been many, many collisions on it over the years I don't think something like this has ever happened before.