13.12.2007

Bridge bash closes Sydney street

A poorly stowed loader crane hit a pedestrian overpass at the corner of Market and Sussex streets in Sydney's business district today closing Sussex street.
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The crane after the accident

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The block grab lies in the street

The loader crane fitted with a brick and block grab was traveling with the crane extended over the trucks tipper bed when it hit the bridge at around 2pm, tearing off the grab and smashing the guard rail on the bridge.
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The accident closed the street

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The damage to the walkway

Fortunately no one was injured, although ambulance officers treated an 80-year-old man for shock.

Vertikal Comment

It is shameful how often such bridge bashing occurs with loader cranes due to sloppy stowage of the crane. This accident appears relatively minor but they can so easily be fatal if the crane parts land on adjacent cars.

Perhaps the time is here to make travel without fully stowing the crane should be made more difficult? Even if traveling with a partially stowed boom required the driver to knowingly accept responsibility by the push of a button that recorded his action?