Trucker Dies As Big-Rig Plummets Off San Francisco Bridge

SAN FRANCISCO — An accident-plagued stretch of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge saw its first fatality Monday when the driver of a speeding big rig lost control and the truck plummeted 200 feet from the span, authorities said.

The truck hauling a full load of pears was traveling about 50 mph – 10 mph over the speed limit – when the driver lost control on a westbound S-curve, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Trent Cross said.

The rig hit a rail and went over the side, landing on Yerba Buena Island.

"The driver was going way too fast," Cross said.

The name of the trucker killed in the crash was not released.

Authorities said the speed coupled with the shifting load propelled the truck over the side of the bridge.

Lanes were closed following the pre-dawn crash, backing up traffic during the morning commute.

The California Department of Transportation plans to replace roadway markers Monday night that were damaged during the crash, spokesman Bart Ney said.

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The agency also plans to add reflective paint to the railing that motorists can see as they go through the curve, he said.

There have been about 40 crashes on the S-curve since it opened Sept. 8. The speed limit drops from 50 mph to 40 mph along that stretch of the bridge, but drivers are advised to slow down even more to 35 mph through the curve.

The S-curve is a temporary detour until construction on a new, seismically safe eastern span of the bridge is completed.

Cross said speed was responsible for most of the crashes that have taken place on the curve, including an overturned big-rig on Oct. 14 that tied up traffic for hours.

"We don't believe the roadway design is the issue," he said. "There's just a small percentage of people who choose to ignore the posted speed limit."

Transportation officials have improved traction on the new section and installed additional signage reminding drivers about the change in speeds, Ney said.

Officials also plan to install signs showing drivers their speed and a large overhead sign with flashing lights indicating the 40 mph limit, he said.

Comments

[DFL]

Slow down drivers, it's a drive..........not a race!

[jasper48]

How about posting a sign saying that;

" X# of accidents have occurred
due to speed, slow down, or be next"

[You]

How many of those have been tried? It's not the wording of the sign, it's the stupidity of even the "best" drivers.

[jasper48]

Believe me, I know from stupid drivers, I've driven for 45 yrs and have driven from one end of the country to the other, but that doesn't mean something innovative shouldn't be tried. I'm not saying that my suggestion is necessarily the best.
Maybe stationing an old police cruiser in the area preceding this trouble spot, with their light tree flashing would do it; just something!
This situation, as stated, is not permanent, so it doesn't have to be long term.
Someone must have a solution. Figure out what it is, and do it. That's all I'm saying.

[bosunj]

Its never the fault of the designers or the bureaucrats who approve their designs. Never.

[dawp]

this a temporary situation during construction, seen them like this may times. the driver was going faster than the posted limit and crashed. end of story.

[wkt20]

it's not "end of story." some 40 odd plus accidents have happened in this 300 yd stretch since labor day, making it the most dangerous stretch of highway anywhere in california. 10 miles over the speed limit is not "way too fast" in anyones book. just go on any roadway in America. SHould the driver have slowed down? Yes. SHould 10 mph over the speed limit send you 200 feet over the side of a bridge? No. Somethings wrong with the design.

[napasonoma]

It is totally unbelievable that there could be 40 accidents in 2 months on this curve, and literally nothing is done about it until someone dies. Is it so difficult to figure out that if the posted speed is 40 and some people continue doing 50, the limit needs to be lowered. How could 40 accidents in 2 months be tolerated; it boggles the mind.

[bosunj]

Totally unbelievable? Nothing the criminal bureaucrats that infest the halls of government do is unbelievable. Grow up.

[Sievehead]

The trouble is when the posted speed on a curve says 40, it's usually (and I stress usually) quite safe to go ten mph over the suggested speed. They should have simply posted a Maximum Truck Speed of 30 if they expected truckers to hit the curve at 40!