A truck wreck is responsible for the Warren Truss bridge collapse in Washington state, Reutersreports. When the truck hit at least one girder, it shook the bridge’s aging infrastructure, plunging cars and drivers into the frigid Skagit River.
After the accident, the truck made it across the bridge before a portion of it collapsed. Unfortunately, two other drivers were not so lucky. Their vehicles, along with a mass of concrete and steel landed in the river on Tuesday. Three people were rescued, official report.
Although no one was killed, the collapse prompted a discussion about the need for greater investment in the nation’s infrastructure. The steel truss bridge was built in 1955.
Washington officials claim that the bridge, which had been inspected two years ago, was structurally sound and collapsed due to the impact of the truck striking the beam. Yet the privately run National Bridge Inventory Database claimed the bridge is “functionally obsolete”, meaning it is to built to meet current standards and demands. The collapse is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
William Scott, the truck driver, pulled his vehicle to the side of the road after the accident, and has cooperated with authorities. Scott is employed by the Canada-based Mullen Trucking. A representative from the company claimed that the state transportation officials gave clearance for Scott to take the oversized load across the bridge.
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