Found the link to the article. http://www.schumer.senate.gov/Newsroom/record.cfm?id=337848
Resin Caster Actually, they are finding that GPs systems are causing accidents like this on a more frequent basis. Too many drivers are "blindly" following the directions on the screen and not paying attention to the signs. I read an article in a local paper a while back that addressed this very issue. It was noted that there was a large increase in truck/bridge collisions on a particular bridge. The drivers all basicaly said the same thing...They were following the GPS directions.
Actually, they are finding that GPs systems are causing accidents like this on a more frequent basis. Too many drivers are "blindly" following the directions on the screen and not paying attention to the signs. I read an article in a local paper a while back that addressed this very issue. It was noted that there was a large increase in truck/bridge collisions on a particular bridge. The drivers all basicaly said the same thing...They were following the GPS directions.
Then that is sheer stupidity on the truck drivers part.
But to be honest you can clearly see the crane shovel was not in the down position. He likely went over the 14' allowance. (Most highway bridges have a 14'4" clearance in the United States) A lawsuit against the construction firm, and trucking firm is likely.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Does that mean that somebody forgot to glue the bridge down! Let's see, where did I put my 5 gallon can of Eileen's Tacky Glue?
Took me a few seconds to figure out what had happened too.
How much do you want to bet that the driver had a Tim Horten's coffee in his hand?!? Either that or the driver's brain was higher than the arm on the excavator.
Do we not have GPS for that sort of thing these days?
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
AntonioFP45Dispatcher (face slumped on his desk, reaches his hand up and keys the microphone): Never mind. Set the brakes, shut er down. We'll send a crew van to pick you all up. I think it's time for me to retire".
What a hoot. Sounds just like real life at the CP dispatch office in Calgary. My daughter worked there as a dispatcher and from some of the stores she's told me, that is about the way it goes some days.
Dennis
CDN Dennis
Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada
Something similar to this happened around the Baltimore Maryland Beltway in the 90's. It's #3 in terms of # of cars handled/day.
Backhoe was in the up position and struck several pedestrial concrete arch crossings. They collapsed sending large blocks of very very heavy concrete into cars, killing several people. The freeway was closed for several days afterwards.
The construction and shipping company were sued by the state, and were forced out of business. The trucker I believe was also put on trial for manslaughter.
Actually some of the worst accidents of this type are where the bridge and the track are knocked off kilter, but the rails do not part and thus the track circuits show that all is OK when it really is not.
I remember seeing a semi trailer that hit a bridge near where i lived -- the top of the semi was rolled back like a can of sardines -- and the C&NW crews spent quite a bit of time checking out the bridge (which was very old) and the integrity of the track before allowing the local switch job to return to the yard over it. It also took quite a bit of work to extricate the semi from the bridge.
Some years ago the Grand Avenue Mall was completed here in Milwaukee, with rather flimsy glassed in walkways over the streets to connect the three blocks worth of buildings into one connected whole. Various kiosks were set up in the walkways to sell smaller items. One day the shoppers walking or shopping in an overhead walkway noticed a dump truck driving towards them on the road underneath ... with the bed fully raised! You can guess the rest, but fortunately the people scattered before the inevitable.
Dave Nelson
Taking the bridge out here boss!
Boss King: Yeah,trucker,take it out there.
Boss King.What!!!????
Sorry..Had to play off the topic's title with one of my favorite movies.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Don't know if I'd say that driver was lucky or not. If it had been a double track bridge he'd been dead in what remained of the cab. Now instead he's got some explaining to do.
I don't know maybe he could say that a really big gust of wind blew the bridge down onto his truck and see how far that gets him.......
I guess Railroading and Trucking don`t really mix do they??
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Hmmm....I see your point.........but then again.......would it not be plausible that there could have been a block signal a mile or so from the bridge, giving him enough time to execute an emergency stop? The way that bridge and rails were whacked, the circuit to the signal(s) would have been broken, triggering an automatic red. No?
Resin Caster The only problem with that conversation is...the crew never would have seen the damage in time to stop
The only problem with that conversation is...the crew never would have seen the damage in time to stop
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
This is the faster way to demolish a bridge on the many abandoned railways up here in Canadaland.
I thought he was delivering a bridge at first!!! LOL..
Cheers,
Frank
Definitely a BIG oops Brent!
Great conversation ANTONIOFP45, still laughing over that one!
Conductor: "Engine 5755 to base."
Dispatcher: "Go ahead 5755, this is the dispatcher"
Conductor: "We're stopped at overpass bridge #14 because of a deer. Gonna need some track work.. Uh, can you tell that MOW crew that we passed 130 miles back to turn around and head our way..................; pronto?"
Dispatcher: "5755, are you pulling my leg? We don't stop for critters! Just move the deer aside and get going, you're a scheduled intermodal and you're already late!
Conductor: "Well, sorry sir, but we can't do that!"
Dispatcher: (losing patience ) "WHY?! What do you mean "You can't"? OK, ok..... (breathing hard) Listen carefully...... DID....THE .. DEER....DAMAGE...YOUR...UNITS?!!!"
Conductor: "Uh negative dispatcher. Why all 4 of our units are just fine! Purring like happy kittens! I'm starting to like these GEs".
Dispatcher: Then what's wrong? Are any loads damaged?!
Conductor: Why no, they're fine...but
Dispatcher: BUT WHAT?!
Conductor: Well......... Can't say the same for the track and bridge in front of me. Just tell the MOW boys to bring a couple of the big diesel hooks, cleanup truck, a welding crew, couple tons of ballast, couple hundred feet of new rail, 3 or 4 tons of mixed concrete...Oh and don't forget that grumpy insurance guy too......We'll wait for em...."
Dispatcher: (slumping in his chair with eyes bugged out ) "Oh really?!.. So how much damage do you estimate this deer did?
Conductor: "Well, I ain't too sure. Maybe $300,000 or so.........."
Dispatcher: "That's it, 5755! I've had it! ....I'm gonna have you all drug tested! So you're saying a deer did that kind of damage? What was his name? Was it Bambi? Or maybe, Rudolph? Was his nose red?"
Conductor: "Well, the name's on the back. Let me check again. Hey Fred, let me hold me your binoculars.......thanks! Uh, Dispatcher, Yeah, uh, the last name is......Deere, first name John! Yellow and black all over. You copy, Dispatcher?"
Dispatcher (face slumped on his desk, reaches his hand up and keys the microphone): Never mind. Set the brakes, shut er down. We'll send a crew van to pick you all up. I think it's time for me to retire".
Conductor (talking to Engineer Fred ) "Poor ol Floyd. I wonder what's buggin him?"
The RCMP appear to be attending, so it's somewhere in the Great White North.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Wow, where was this!!
Karl
NCE über alles!
Wow, that had to be a bit of a sudden stop
Especially to push the railroad bridge off the feet, that wasn't a slow speed hit.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
yikes.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader