A bridge in Livingston County has sustained significant damage when a commercial truck’s hydraulic lift, left extended, struck the structure on Thursday afternoon. According to CBS Detroit, the incident took place around 1:45 p.m. when the arm of a dumpster hauler rammed into the Crouse Road overpass while traveling north on U.S. 23. The vehicle, operated by a 31-year-old Lansing man, was hauling dumpsters before the accident occurred.
The Livingston County Sheriff's Office reported that debris from the collision fell onto a nearby car, a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu driven by a 27-year-old Linwood resident. Despite the potential danger, no injuries were reported in the mishap. The aftermath of the incident saw Crouse Road near the site being closed off indefinitely, while northbound traffic on U.S. 23 was funneled into a single lane until clearance from the Michigan Department of Transportation was given, as detailed by information from abc12.
MDOT is evaluating the scale of the damage to determine necessary repairs for the overpass. Meanwhile, The Michigan State Police Motor Carrier division joined the response team at the scene to assess the incident. Livingston Daily reports that the overpass will stay closed till further notice, and the northbound lane of US-23 in the area will remain limited pending the outcome of MDOT's detailed investigation into the accident.
The damage to the bridge was severe enough to twist an steel beam, which is indicative of the force with which the truck's lift mechanism struck the bridge. "The truck's mechanics struck a sign that was attached to the bridge, then struck the bridge," deputies told CBS Detroit. The incident has directed attention to operational safety and the usage of commercial vehicles on public roads, as well as the enforcement of transportation regulations designed to prevent such occurrences.
