Breaking news..San Francisco bridge hit by gasoline truck parts of it melted. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Howdoulikemenow333 · 04-30-2007, 01:00 AM

OAKLAND, Calif. - A gasoline tanker crashed and burst into flames near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Sunday, creating such intense heat that a stretch of highway melted and collapsed. Officials predicted a traffic nightmare for Bay Area commuters for weeks or months to come.

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Flames shot 200 feet in the air, but the truck's driver walked away from the scene with second-degree burns. No other injuries were reported in the 3:45 a.m. crash, which officials said could have been deadly had it occurred at a busier time.

"I've never seen anything like it," Officer Trent Cross of the California Highway Patrol said of the crumpled interchange. "I'm looking at this thinking, 'Wow, no one died' — that's amazing. It's just very fortunate."

Authorities said the damage could take months to repair, and that it would cause the worst disruption for Bay Area commuters since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged a section of the Bay Bridge itself.

Nearly 75,000 vehicles a day use the interchange, which connects westbound lanes of Interstate 80 to southbound I-880, on the edge of downtown Oakland about half a mile from the Bay Bridge's toll plaza. But Because the accident occured where three highways converge, authorities said it could cause commuting problems for hundreds of thousands of people.

State transportation officials said 280,000 commuters take the bridge into San Francisco each day.

On Sunday the collapse doubled the half-hour trip drivers normally face getting to and from San Francisco and the eastern suburbs — even though many didn't even attempt the trip because of the crash. Traffic appeared light on the bridge itself, but motorists looking to get on and off were backed up on both sides.

Transportation officials said they already had added trains to the Bay Area Rapid Transit rail system that takes commuters across San Francisco Bay, and were urging people to telecommute if possible. In preparation for rush hour, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized funding so that ferries, buses and the rail system could carry commuters free of charge during Monday's commute.

State officials said motorists who try to take alternate routes Monday instead of relying on public transportation would face nightmarish commutes.

The tanker carrying 8,600 gallons of gasoline ignited after crashing into a pylon on the interchange.

The driver, James Mosqueda, 51, of Woodland, was headed from a refinery in Benicia to a gas station near the Oakland Airport when the accident occurred, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A preliminary investigation indicated he may have been speeding on the curving road, Cross said. Mosqueda was being treated in a hospital for burns Sunday; the hospital would not transfer media calls to his room.

Witnesses reported flames rising up to 200 feet into the air. Heat exceeded 2,750 degrees and caused the steel beams holding up the interchange from eastbound I-80 to eastbound Interstate 580 above to buckle and bolts holding the structure together to melt, leading to the collapse, California Department of Transportation director Will Kempton said.

The charred section of collapsed freeway was draped at a sharp angle onto the highway beneath, exposing a web of twisted metal beneath the concrete. Officials said that altogether a 250-yard portion of the upper roadway was damaged.

The cost of the repairs would likely run into the tens of millions of dollars, and the state was seeking federal disaster aid, Kempton said. Schwarzenegger late Sunday issued an emergency declaration to allow repairs to happen faster, said Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's spokesman.

The Bay Bridge consists of two heavily traveled, double-decked bridges about two miles long straddling San Francisco Bay.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the accident showed how fragile the Bay area's transportation network is, whether to an earthquake or terrorist attack, and has the potential to have a major economic effect on the city.

"It's another giant wakeup call," Newsom told reporters at the California Democratic Party convention in San Diego.

___

Associated Press Writer Tom Verdin in San Diego contributed to this story.

(This version CORRECTS spelling of Benicia.)

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ABlairican Pie · 04-30-2007, 01:54 AM

OH NO!!!

swedeace · 04-30-2007, 02:50 AM

Oh, how scary!

When I first read the first part of this article, I thought this occured on the actual Golden Gate bridge. I was about to wonder about it since it is hovering above water!

Here is the link for the slideshow filled with 19 photos. All I can say about those photos is...wow!! The fallen areas are not crumbled but just look like they're fallen in.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/even...jFbPBobcxH2ocA

Karen* · 04-30-2007, 03:39 AM

Damn...traffic's gonna get backed up. Good thing no one got seriously injured though.

catlover79 · 04-30-2007, 10:11 AM

How horrible...I'm also glad no one was seriously injured.

AB · 04-30-2007, 04:37 PM

Thats terrible! Its certianly going to cause major traffic problems.

Dr. John Becker · 04-30-2007, 06:15 PM

The lefties who think 9/11 was a conspiracy(like Rosie O'Donut) believe that steel can't melt. Hopefully this will teach them a lesson.

Karen* · 04-30-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. John Becker

The lefties who think 9/11 was a conspiracy(like Rosie O'Donut) believe that steel can't melt. Hopefully this will teach them a lesson.

How is this relevant to the story?

Dr. John Becker · 05-01-2007, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Girl Next Door

How is this relevant to the story?

It's not really, just making an observation about people who think 9/11 was an inside job, and believe that the government planted explosives in the Towers. (The bridges were steel)

friendsfan77 · 05-01-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swedeace

Oh, how scary!

When I first read the first part of this article, I thought this occured on the actual Golden Gate bridge. I was about to wonder about it since it is hovering above water!

So did I. Well, when I first heard about the story, anyway. Thank goodness no one was seriously or critically injured.

04-30-2007, 01:00 AM	#1
Howdoulikemenow333 I'M having a bad day Senior Member Join Date: Jul 05, 2003 Location: Later Posts: 1,263	Breaking news..San Francisco bridge hit by gasoline truck parts of it melted. OAKLAND, Calif. - A gasoline tanker crashed and burst into flames near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Sunday, creating such intense heat that a stretch of highway melted and collapsed. Officials predicted a traffic nightmare for Bay Area commuters for weeks or months to come. ADVERTISEMENT Flames shot 200 feet in the air, but the truck's driver walked away from the scene with second-degree burns. No other injuries were reported in the 3:45 a.m. crash, which officials said could have been deadly had it occurred at a busier time. "I've never seen anything like it," Officer Trent Cross of the California Highway Patrol said of the crumpled interchange. "I'm looking at this thinking, 'Wow, no one died' — that's amazing. It's just very fortunate." Authorities said the damage could take months to repair, and that it would cause the worst disruption for Bay Area commuters since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged a section of the Bay Bridge itself. Nearly 75,000 vehicles a day use the interchange, which connects westbound lanes of Interstate 80 to southbound I-880, on the edge of downtown Oakland about half a mile from the Bay Bridge's toll plaza. But Because the accident occured where three highways converge, authorities said it could cause commuting problems for hundreds of thousands of people. State transportation officials said 280,000 commuters take the bridge into San Francisco each day. On Sunday the collapse doubled the half-hour trip drivers normally face getting to and from San Francisco and the eastern suburbs — even though many didn't even attempt the trip because of the crash. Traffic appeared light on the bridge itself, but motorists looking to get on and off were backed up on both sides. Transportation officials said they already had added trains to the Bay Area Rapid Transit rail system that takes commuters across San Francisco Bay, and were urging people to telecommute if possible. In preparation for rush hour, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized funding so that ferries, buses and the rail system could carry commuters free of charge during Monday's commute. State officials said motorists who try to take alternate routes Monday instead of relying on public transportation would face nightmarish commutes. The tanker carrying 8,600 gallons of gasoline ignited after crashing into a pylon on the interchange. The driver, James Mosqueda, 51, of Woodland, was headed from a refinery in Benicia to a gas station near the Oakland Airport when the accident occurred, according to the California Highway Patrol. A preliminary investigation indicated he may have been speeding on the curving road, Cross said. Mosqueda was being treated in a hospital for burns Sunday; the hospital would not transfer media calls to his room. Witnesses reported flames rising up to 200 feet into the air. Heat exceeded 2,750 degrees and caused the steel beams holding up the interchange from eastbound I-80 to eastbound Interstate 580 above to buckle and bolts holding the structure together to melt, leading to the collapse, California Department of Transportation director Will Kempton said. The charred section of collapsed freeway was draped at a sharp angle onto the highway beneath, exposing a web of twisted metal beneath the concrete. Officials said that altogether a 250-yard portion of the upper roadway was damaged. The cost of the repairs would likely run into the tens of millions of dollars, and the state was seeking federal disaster aid, Kempton said. Schwarzenegger late Sunday issued an emergency declaration to allow repairs to happen faster, said Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's spokesman. The Bay Bridge consists of two heavily traveled, double-decked bridges about two miles long straddling San Francisco Bay. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the accident showed how fragile the Bay area's transportation network is, whether to an earthquake or terrorist attack, and has the potential to have a major economic effect on the city. "It's another giant wakeup call," Newsom told reporters at the California Democratic Party convention in San Diego. ___ Associated Press Writer Tom Verdin in San Diego contributed to this story. (This version CORRECTS spelling of Benicia.) Email Story IM Story Printable View RECOMMEND THIS STORY Recommend It: Average (733 votes) » Recommended Stories U.S. News 4 dead after violence in Kansas City AP Ex-Scout official charged in molestation AP 70 percent of Georgia blaze contained AP Minorities fare worse in traffic stops AP WWII hero Robert Rosenthal dies at 89 AP Most Viewed - U.S. 4 dead after violence in Kansas City AP Prospective Hokies weigh enrollment AP Four dead, two wounded in Kansas City shootings Reuters Minorities fare worse in traffic stops AP WWII hero Robert Rosenthal dies at 89 AP U.S. News Video Celebrity support for Darfur AP - Sun Apr 29, 9:31 PM ET Immigration protests begin CNN - Sun Apr 29, 4:07 PM ET Officials moving fast to repair Calif. bridge AP - Sun Apr 29, 3:56 PM ET Democrat talks impeachment AP - Sun Apr 29, 3:36 PM ET Sponsored Links( What's this? ) Mortgage Rates Fall Again $430,000 Loan $1299/mo. Think you pay too much? Calculate new payment. www.LowerMyBills.com Don't Quit Your Job Take classes online and earn your degree in one year. www.ClassesUSA.com Refinance with Bad Credit Compare up to 4 free quotes. Serious refinance requests only. www.homeloanhelpline.com AP Photo: A section of highway lies crumbled in Emeryville, Calif., after a tanker carrying gasoline exploded... Slideshow: Section of Bay Area freeway collapses Related Video Tanker fire causes highway collapse A tanker carrying 8,600 gallons of gasoline crashed and caught fire on a California highway interchange; a section of the highway collapsed and will cause major disruptions for commuters. (April 29) Play video \| » More AP video » Show all news video NEWS ALERTS Get an alert when there are new stories about: Arnold Schwarzenegger » More Alerts Elsewhere on the Web CNN.com Study: Minorities more likely to be searched, arrested ABC News Government Fumbles Millions in Potential Katrina Donations USATODAY.com Ebola-like virus killing fish in Great Lakes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! - My Yahoo! - Mail Search: All News Yahoo! News Only News Photos Video/Audio Advanced Primary Navigation Home U.S Business World Entertainment Sports Tech Politics Science Health Travel Most Popular Odd News Opinion Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Copyright © 2007 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Questions or Comments Privacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy - Ad Feedback

04-30-2007, 01:54 AM	#2
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	OH NO!!!
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

04-30-2007, 03:39 AM	#4
Karen* paradox. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 28,365	Damn...traffic's gonna get backed up. Good thing no one got seriously injured though.
	__________________ karen on \| twitter \| tumblr

04-30-2007, 10:11 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	How horrible...I'm also glad no one was seriously injured.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-30-2007, 06:15 PM	#7
Dr. John Becker A Great American Senior Member Join Date: Sep 12, 2003 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,645	The lefties who think 9/11 was a conspiracy(like Rosie O'Donut) believe that steel can't melt. Hopefully this will teach them a lesson.
	__________________ Romney/Ryan 2012

04-30-2007, 02:50 AM	#3
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	Oh, how scary! When I first read the first part of this article, I thought this occured on the actual Golden Gate bridge. I was about to wonder about it since it is hovering above water! Here is the link for the slideshow filled with 19 photos. All I can say about those photos is...wow!! The fallen areas are not crumbled but just look like they're fallen in. http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/even...jFbPBobcxH2ocA

04-30-2007, 04:37 PM	#6
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Thats terrible! Its certianly going to cause major traffic problems.