Driver dies after truck plummets from Bay Bridge at S-curve

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11/9/9 | Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

[SmithL]

A truck driver died early today after losing control on the Bay Bridge S-curve at high speed and plummeting 200 feet below to Yerba Buena Island, the most serious collision yet since the new detour was installed, the California Highway Patrol said.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I worked high rise construction, it didn’t bother me until I saw a guy go off the edge. I don’t even stand on chairs now. Gravity is unforgiving!

[RightField]

The Coronado Bridge in San Diego is a thrill, too. The side barriers are less than 36" high, and there is a sweeping curve on the Coronado Island side. The view in any direction is awesome. I was told once that the center section is not permanently attached, so as to permit easy removal in event of war. There was concern that if the bridge were destroyed and fell into the bay the Navy ships behind it would be trapped. So, apparently the center section can be removed easily. Now that's gravitas!

[dfwgator]

I get white knuckles just looking at it.

[editor-surveyor]

Outside of the central valley, California is just about solid mountains, whether desert, or seashore.

[little jeremiah]

I’m totally with you.

But then, I hate flying in airplanes, too.

I like the ground.

[little jeremiah]

I can’t even LOOK at the Astoria bridge.

I’m way worse. I’d have to get there another way.

[driftless2]

"these types of bridges"

I've gone over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan a number of times and felt the same kind of trepidation. It's a long way down, and one or more cars have gone over the side to their deaths.

[Rebelbase]

“I used to do some cliff and bridge diving from 45 to 60 ft above the water surface. There is plenty of time to contemplate how stupid you are”

HA! Used to jump 40’ off the top of a dam when I was young, dumb and stupid. I was cured on the last jump when I didn’t keep my feet together.

[Pete-R-Bilt]

wonderful vid.

There is no place on earth like So. Utah

I’ve been exploring it since the early 70’s

hope you went to Natural Bridges S P when you were there or got up to Arches when you got over to 191

It’s sad to know that the Yup’s are building a Multi Million dollar community just outside of Mexican Hat

modernization and regulations will no doubt follow

nice chatting, I’m off to Cal. so they can eat breakfast for another week

acouple of our excursions in pics for your viewing enjoyment

http://public.fotki.com/IRTruckn/capital-reef-along-/

http://public.fotki.com/IRTruckn/lake-powell/

PRB

[mad_as_he$$]

No., Kalifornia has some of the worst drivers in the world. If someone was following the truck today I am surprised 7 or 8 of them did not follow it right over the edge.

[Rebelbase]

Isn’t that the bridge that connects the UP with civilization?

[dfwgator]

I still have nightmares from remember the 1980 Sunshine Skyway disaster when a barge hit the bridge and about 6 cars and a bus dropped into Tampa Bay. I used to have to drive over that bridge and I dreaded it every time.

[driftless2]

Ever drive the “Going To The Sun” road in Glacier National Park? I drove it with my wife as passenger. As I was driving I couldn’t take my eyes off the road to look at the scenery, so one time I asked my wife what the view looked like. She couldn’t tell me, she was too scared to take her eyes off the road.

[clintonh8r]

shovel ready project!

[RinaseaofDs]

They have no problems turning left it seems. Very difficult time turning right.

[who knows what evil?]

As time has gone by, I find I cannot drive over these types of bridges unless I am in the inside lane.

You didn't have that choice on the old Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina...it looked as spindly and scrawny a bridge as I have ever seen. The ULTIMATE 'white-knuckle ride'; especially in a thunderstorm. You'll have to settle for pictures now...it has been torn down. Finally.

[Cyber Liberty]

Mackinac’s made of see-through grating, too, so you can look straight down to the water about 2 million feet below.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

I know this bridge well. It is not so bad as the others mentioned here. You can get across pretty fast, and you are not so high. I still stay on the inside lanes away from the railing.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

Try going across any grating on a motorcycle. It feels as though you have no control of the bike. Dittos rain grooves. Scary.

[Disambiguator]

This one too.

Taos Gorge Bridge; Taos, New Mexico.