Truck v. Bridge: Recent incidents causing concern
There has been a number local of incidents where trucks have hit bridges within the span of just over a week and it is causing concerns for driving instructors, community members and police.
The store manager at Swanson’s Home Hardware in Kitchener said he heard the latest crash in front of his store on Monday.
He described it as a loud crunch, when a truck failed to get under the Park Street rail bridge. He said it isn’t the first time.
“Three or four times in the year there's a truck stuck under it at some point,” Andrew Williams said.
A truck is seen stuck under a rail bridge in Kitchener on Feb. 9, 2020. (Johnny Mazza / CTV Kitchener)
In 2020 a transport truck got wedged under the same bridge causing traffic to be backed up for hours.
On Wednesday, a section of Highway 403 in Brantford was closed for several hours after a tow truck pulling heavy equipment struck an overpass bridge.
Police responded to the collision at the North Park Road bridge just before 3 p.m.
“Commercial vehicle operators who are towing heavy equipment, because that seems to be the consistent factor in these bridge strikes, you have to be really cognizant of the overall height of your vehicle once you have everything loaded on top," said Cst. Conrad Vitalis of Brant County OPP.
A person drives on a highway near Ayr, Ont. (Dave Pettitt/CTV Kitchener)
According to a local truck driving instructor with ten years experience, knowing your load and your route is the most important thing he teaches his students.
“You are the captain of your ship so you should know all the things about it,” said Kevin Matthews, an instructor from Ayr who works for Mill Creek Motorfreight, a Kriska Transportation Group Company.
“Drivers could tape something on the dash as a reminder to them of how high they are,” he said. “They should be taking a look down the street they want to take and see if it’s a no truck street and if there is a low-clearance sign.”
Jim Campbell with the Ontario Truck Driving School said he’s noticed an increase in bridge hitting incidents.
“Always comes down to professionalism,” Campbell said. “Understanding the parameters of the job, educated enough to take on the job, aware enough to remain in compliance while doing the job. Everyone that comes in contact with the process of transporting goods must never lose sight of public safety.”
A large slab of concrete is seen on Highway 403 in Brantford after falling from the Wayne Gretzky Parkway bridge on May 9, 2022. (Dan Lauckner/CTV News)
Last week a commercial vehicle hit the Wayne Gretzky Parkway bridge. The collision caused the huge piece of concrete to fall, smashing through the guard rails as it crashed down onto the roadway.
There were no injuries in any of these incidents, but police worry it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt in a similar incident.
“Sooner or later we're not going to be so lucky and it could end badly,” said Cst. Vitalis.
It could lead to charges.
In the incident at the North Park Road bridge on Wednesday, both the truck driver and the company were charged with having an over height vehicle under the Highway Traffic Act.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.