Crane Accident: San Pablo, Calif.

August 2012—The boom of crawler crane that was being transported on a lowboy trailer smashed a traffic signal and light pole, then tore concrete from the bottom of pedestrian bridge as the truck drove beneath it. The accident closed lanes of an Interstate highway for more than eight hours while investigators examined truck and bridge and cleaned up concrete debris. A California Highway Patrol spokesman said the truck driver did not have the right permits to move the 17-foot-tall load on a public highway. Any trucking company transporting a load taller than 14 feet must get a special permit and travel along a preapproved route that will ensure the proper vertical clearance. CHP will continue investigating. If the truck’s owner failed to get proper permits, it may have to pay fines and pay for repairs to the pedestrian bridge. - www.mercurynews.com