580 freeway collapse in oakland − 29 April, 2007
on sunday, april 29th, at 3:42am, a tanker truck carrying 8600 gallons of gasoline crashed and exploded, causing the collapse of the 580 freeway overpass onto I-880. the accident occurred in oakland bordering emeryville near the entrance of the bay bridge toll plaza to san francisco.
the truck driver, mr mosqueda, was heading towards a gas station near the oakland airport when he lost control of his truck, colliding with the guard-rail and eventually flipping his truck. the explosion sent flames several hundred feet into the air. the heat from the flames quickly caused the melted steel girders and bolts that supported the concrete highway to collapse. the section of the 580 freeway came crashing down 30 feet onto interstate 880 below. on an average day both sections of the freeway are used by 160,000 vehicles.
damage is estimated in the tens of millions and will take months to repair. fortunately, the driver of the truck survived with second degree burns. he hailed down a taxi cab and he was treated at a nearby hospital.
the accident occurred only a mile away from where i live. i heard helicopters, sirens and construction vehicles all morning long but i had no clue what had happened until i read the news. when i drove to the scene of the accident it was surreal to see the melted down section of the freeway. the concrete looked like a painting by dali.
map of the section of the 580 overpass where the accident occurred.
the truck driver, mr mosqueda, was heading towards a gas station near the oakland airport when he lost control of his truck, colliding with the guard-rail and eventually flipping his truck. the explosion sent flames several hundred feet into the air. the heat from the flames quickly caused the melted steel girders and bolts that supported the concrete highway to collapse. the section of the 580 freeway came crashing down 30 feet onto interstate 880 below. on an average day both sections of the freeway are used by 160,000 vehicles.
damage is estimated in the tens of millions and will take months to repair. fortunately, the driver of the truck survived with second degree burns. he hailed down a taxi cab and he was treated at a nearby hospital.
the accident occurred only a mile away from where i live. i heard helicopters, sirens and construction vehicles all morning long but i had no clue what had happened until i read the news. when i drove to the scene of the accident it was surreal to see the melted down section of the freeway. the concrete looked like a painting by dali.
map of the section of the 580 overpass where the accident occurred.
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
580 freeway collapse
Comments:
kga245 (April 30, 2007. 09:34pm)
wow.
imnotquitejack (May 1, 2007. 07:00pm)
Damn...
pepero (May 8, 2007. 04:09pm)
the good news is that interstate 880 was *not* structurally damaged so its open now.
kga245 (May 8, 2007. 06:43pm)
That video is great too. Nicely reported, peps.