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.

[Night Hides Not]

If you really want some excitement, check out the "Mixmaster" in Dallas.

Especially if you want to head west to Fort Worth on I-30.

[Night Hides Not]

Nothing has ever given me the willies like the Rio Grande Gorge...

[pa_dweller]

It looks like concrete below the bridge in the picture in the prededing post (post #5). Is there still a Coast Guard base in that area on YBI? I was stationed there ‘73-’75.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I've got a fear of ALL heights. I can handle things if there is enough of a barrier, but can't get too close to the edge.

I don't know if it's heights as much as it is a fear of falling off the edge. Just thinking about this makes me nervous. I call it edge-ophobia. If there's a barrier, I'm totally OK. I'm not sure about that glass-bottom skydeck at the Grand Canyon, though.

[SmithL]

The first time I crossed the Cooper River bridge, I was a passenger in a U-Haul truck during an ice storm. With its metal deck, it was super slick, and I can’t remember any bridge that felt that narrow.

I always hated crossing it.

[runningbear]

AP - The crumpled remains of a big rig lie beneath the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Monday, in San Francisco, following an early morning crash. The truck's driver died after losing control on the bridge's temporary S-curve and crashing to the ground several hundred feet below.

and

AP - Skid marks line the slow lane of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Monday, in San Francisco. A truck driver died earlier in the morning after losing control on the bridge's temporary S-curve and crashing to the ground several hundred feet below.

[anglian]

[anglian]

Mountain Highway in Bolivia, South America http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/TPC/fun-pics002/1701-1800/081.shtm

[who knows what evil?]

Cooper River Bridge in an ice storm? Not a chance.

[SmithL]

January 1971

[fieldmarshaldj]

Been across that one a few times and walked on it, spectacular views... but I had to battle my fear of heights (and labyrinthitis) in order to get pictures of the gorge.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Oooh, went over that one in ‘88 with my mother driving it. She was not happy.

[beaversmom]

I have never been to California. I’m aware that there are mountains there, but for some reason I never associate CA with mountains even though you obviously have some big ones.

[beaversmom]

Sent you an FR mail—thanks for the pics.

[beaversmom]

I’m not sure—I’ve never been in that area. Looks pretty though.

[beaversmom]

Never made it up there—furthest we’ve been into MT is Little Big Horn. I’m sure it’s beautiful, but I would probably be doing the same as your wife.

[beaversmom]

Edge-ophobia—I like that!

[beaversmom]

Wow—looks pretty and not very far from us. I guess I could just look straight ahead and hold onto the door handle. Of course I wouldn’t be the one driving over it.

[beaversmom]

Wow, you’ve got to have some guts to do that kind of work. Terrible memory for you though and a horrible way to go out for your co-worker.

[editor-surveyor]

My daughter just sold her place in “the hills” above Golden.

She’s always refered to the mountains in Colorado as ‘hills’ even though her house was at 8900 feet, because looking up from the plain around Denver they just don’t look so tall compared to looking up at the Sierra from Panamint valley or looking at Shasta from Redding, etc.

When you’re used to looking up from near sea level, it changes your perspective. Now she has a place in Knightsen Ca and her horses and cattle are “way happier,” especially in the winter :o)