Captured the aftermath of an accident

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the aftermath of an accident involving a semi-tractor trailer and an overpass, specifically focusing on the structural impact of the collision and the circumstances surrounding it. Participants explore the physical dynamics of the incident, share personal anecdotes related to similar accidents, and engage in light-hearted commentary.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at the extent of damage caused by the boom of the excavator penetrating the bridge, questioning the structural integrity of the overpass.
  • Others comment on the stress experienced by the boom during the collision, suggesting it must have been under significant stress to cause such damage.
  • A participant shares a personal anecdote about a similar incident involving a vessel on a flatbed trailer impacting an overpass, noting the consequences of inadequate clearance and speed.
  • There is a humorous tone in some responses, with participants making light of the situation while acknowledging the seriousness of the accident.
  • One participant notes the unusual scenario of the boom extending significantly above the roadway without damaging the barrier, prompting curiosity about the mechanics of the incident.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the surprising nature of the damage caused by the accident, but there are varying interpretations of the mechanics involved and the implications for safety and engineering standards. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific dynamics of the collision and the conditions leading to the accident.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference the structural components of the overpass and the excavator, but there are no detailed calculations or technical analyses provided. The discussion includes anecdotal evidence and personal experiences that may not fully align with the specifics of the accident described.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in engineering, safety standards for transportation, and those curious about the dynamics of vehicle collisions with infrastructure may find this discussion relevant.

Astronuc
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http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/hoecrash.asp
(Edit: replaced url to images with url to webpage.)

The photographs displayed above capture the aftermath of an accident that occurred on the evening of 13 February 2006 on Interstate 70 near Hays, Kansas. The driver of a semi-tractor trailer that was hauling a track hoe excavator on a flatbed misestimated the clearance at an overpass, and the boom of the hoe collided with the overpass and knocked a 45-foot gap through the deck of the bridge. The accident forced an 11-day closure of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70. (The bridge itself remained closed even after the highway reopened.)

The driver of the rig was uninjured, although he was later cited for not having clearance to drive on the interstate. The Kansas Department of Transportation said the construction company for which the driver worked would be liable for the cost of repairs to the overpass, which were estimated at $134,000 as of late March 2006.

(Edit: removed faulty url)

A hoe weighing 8 tons is on top of a flatbed trailer and heading east on Interstate 70 near Hays, Kansas. The extended shovel arm is made of hardened refined steel and the approaching overpass is made of commercial-grade concrete, reinforced with 1 1/2 inch steel rebar spaced at 6 inch intervals in a criss-cross pattern layered at 1 foot vertical spacing.

Solve: When the shovel arm hits the overpass, how fast do you have to be going to slice the bridge in half? (Assume no effect for headwind and no braking by the driver.)

Extra Credit: Solve for the time and distance required for the entire rig to come to a complete stop after hitting the overpass at the speed calculated above.

And you probably thought engineers don't have a sense of humor. :biggrin:
 
Last edited:
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I can't get any of your links to work. Can you check them please?
 
Likewise. 'Page Cannot Be Displayed'
 
Sorry 'bout the links. I guess they don't allow direct access to the images. The snopes site has those annoying popups.

I put the url to the page with the article and images.
 
That was worth waiting for. What a bonehead... :biggrin:
 
Wow, that's amazing it could penetrate that far into the bridge without simply breaking off the boom. That's solid concrete and steel its going through. It almost cut through the bridge, that thing must be under an unacceptable amount of stress in that section.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Wow, that's amazing it could penetrate that far into the bridge without simply breaking off the boom. That's solid concrete and steel its going through. It almost cut through the bridge, that thing must be under an unacceptable amount of stress in that section.

I think any thing would be under a great deal of stress with a thumping great track hoe charging towards it.:smile:
 
I've seen big trucks wedged under overpasses (especially on the parkways on Long Island) but I have never seen something do that much damage.

Brewnog might have to show that around at work and they could have a new competative benchmark for Cat's backhoes.
 
Many years ago, I came across a vessel on a flat bed that had just impacted an overpass. The road was bumpy enough, I suspect that the trailer and its load (the vessel) must have bounced and hit the bridge (there clearance was too low, and the driver should have been driving slower). Anyway, several of the bridges beams buckled.

A car, which was following closely behind the trailer, hit the rear left corner of the trailer, because the driver could not respond fast enough to avoid it, when it came to an abupt stop under the bridge.
 
  • #10
The arm is sticking up a good 10ft through the roadway but the barrier is unharmed... Wonder how that happened :confused: