Bay Bridge S-curve proves dangerous

2009-10-19 03:48:16 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Auto Accident, Justice News Flash)

Legal news for California automobile accident attorneys. A tractor-trailer overturned while trying to navigate the newly opened S-curve.

California automobile accident attorney alerts- A Safeway 18-wheeler crashed on the S-curve of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

San Francisco, CA—A tractor-trailer crash on the Bay Bridge’s newly opened S-curve prompted the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) officials to install better warning signs to alert motorists to slow down when approaching the stretch. The big-rig crash happened on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 around 2:30 p.m., on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) a tractor trailing belonging to Safeway, North America’s third largest supermarket chain, crashed and overturned on the Bay Bridge. The semi-truck drive by Manuel E. Garcia Jara, 55, has reportedly traveled across the bridge many times, but has never navigated the new S-curve, which opened on September 8th.

The S-curve apparently was constructed to replace the seismically unsafe eastern span. Police officials reported Jara was traveling at 55 mph in a 40 mph zone, when his 18-wheeler entered the curve and overturned on the westbound lanes. Jara sustained non-life threatening injuries in the wreck, but it is unknown if he was transported to a hospital for treatment. The overturned semi-truck was transporting 40,000 pounds of groceries en route to Safeway stores in San Francisco and Pacifica. The semi truck stayed at the scene for several hours until another Safeway rig made its way through the backed up traffic to pick up the groceries.

Caltrans officials stated the newly opened S-curve has been the site of 20 accidents since it opened. Officials reportedly approved a plan on Monday, October 12, 2009 to improve the warning signs for motorists navigating the bridge of a new speed limit. The new speed limit is 40 mph on the curve, which is a 10 mph decrease from the rest of the span of the bridge.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for California automobile accident lawyers.