November 26, 2014
Texas

Equipment fall will cost trucking company

Posted on November 25, 2014 | By Dug Begley | The Highwayman | Houston Chronicle | chron.com

A large piece of equipment that fell from a truck during an incident Monday on U.S. 59 will lead to a big bill for the trucking company.

The wreck closed northbound U.S. 59 for six hours and injured one person. Most of the six hours was spent trying to get the enormous mast, likely for a windmill, off the road.

Though the annoyance for drivers isn’t factored into the cost, the expense of having a company lift the mast will cost the trucking company hauling the equipment, said Deidrea Samuels, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation.

The road wasn’t badly damaged, she added.

“There was minor damage to the median barrier on U.S. 59 but no damage to the pavement,” Samuels said.

Monday’s incident is the latest in what some say is an increasing number of heavy truck accidents in the area. Earlier this month, a truck hauling a backhoe clipped a railroad bridge, leading to a lengthy closure of Interstate 10.

TxDOT and Houston TranStar data show 126 reports of damaged bridges along or atop Houston area roadways since 2011.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/11/26/equipment-fall-will-cost-trucking-company/