Two accidents occurred in Metro Vancouver on March 25th and 26th in which trucks collided with overpasses. According to the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Transport, the cargo of a truck collided with an overpass on Highway 99 near the George Massie Tunnel in Richmond around 10 a.m. on the 26th.
Video posted on social media shows the truck that crashed appears to be carrying cargo on top of a container, with debris falling onto the highway as it passes under an overpass. There were no injuries and there was no major damage to the viaduct.
A similar incident occurred in Vancouver’s Stanley Park on March 25th. There was obvious damage to the viaduct in the incident, and Vancouver police said they will issue tickets.
On March 29, the government temporarily revoked the licenses of the two trucking companies responsible for these accidents pending investigation. In mid-March, the state government announced tougher penalties after repeated truck collisions on elevated bridges.
The proposed amendments to BC’s Commercial Transport Act would impose fines of up to $100,000 or 18 months in prison for drivers who cause collisions. The BC Trucking Association, an employer group, welcomed the move, but the United Truckers Association, which represents truck drivers at the Port of Vancouver, said it was concerned about imposing penalties only on drivers, and warned that loading and dispatching stakeholders should It also states that cargoes should be required to be appropriately sized.