Similar Accidents
There have been numerous incidents throughout the world involving bridge collisions, including the following.
- The 1953 Tangiwai Bridge disaster in New Zealand, in which 151 people died when a bridge over the Whangaehu River collapsed under the force of a volcanic lahar. Sensors now put the signals to red if a lahar is detected.
- The 1975 Tasman Bridge disaster in Hobart, the capital city of Australia's island state of Tasmania, when a bridge was hit by a 7,000 ton bulk carrier, causing a 400 foot section of roadway to fall 120 feet into the river below. Twelve deaths resulted.
- The 1977 Granville train disaster in Sydney, Australia, which involved the collapse of a bridge after its support pylons were struck by a train. This incident was caused in part by inadequately protected and strapped piers and spans. Programs to protect piers of some other bridges were instituted.
- The Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster in Tampa Bay, Florida. The southbound span of the original bridge, built in the late sixties, was destroyed on May 9, 1980, when the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with a pier (support column) during a storm, sending over 1200 feet (366m) of the bridge plummeting into Tampa Bay. The collision caused six automobiles and a Greyhound bus to fall 150 feet (46 m), killing 35 people.
- The Eschede train disaster of 1998 involved a high-speed train which derailed, and carriages hit a nearby motorway bridge.
- The I-40 bridge disaster of 2002 was caused a barge hitting the I-40 bridge over the Arkansas River, which collapsed, causing numerous cars to fall in the river. There were 14 fatalities.
- The Eggner Ferry Bridge partially collapsed on January 26, 2012, when the MV Delta Mariner stuck the bridge after traveling through the recreational channel in the Tennessee River on Kentucky Lake. No injuries were reported
Read more about this topic: 1993 Big Bayou Canot Train Wreck
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