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Big-Rig Driver Learns Hard Way That 18-Wheeler Doesn't Quite Fit Through Bridge Toll Plaza
SF Weekly ^ | Jul. 2 2013 | Erin Sherbert

Posted on 07/05/2013 8:22:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway

As if the morning commute couldn't have gotten worse for everyone. A big-rig driver reportedly slammed into the toll plaza at the Golden Gate Bridge as he tried desperately to make his way to San Francisco. The bizarre crash happened during rush hour at about 8:43 a.m. along the third southbound lane from the left at the toll plaza on the southern end of the bridge, CHP Officer Andrew Barclay told KTVU.

Naturally, the toll plaza was damaged, as was the front of the truck, and everyone's mood about the morning commute. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

Now for the burning question: What the hell?

Golden Gate Bridge spokeswoman Mary Currie says the big-rig driver tried -- and failed -- to use a lane that was "too narrow for the truck."

The big-rig was stuck until about 9:40 a.m., obnoxiously blocking three southbound lanes at the toll plaza.


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: california; frisco; sanfrancisco; sf; tightfit
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1 posted on 07/05/2013 8:22:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Are big rigs even allowed on GGB?


2 posted on 07/05/2013 8:25:44 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: nickcarraway

He was soooo close, just one lane too far to the left.


3 posted on 07/05/2013 8:28:25 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: nickcarraway

LOL!!!

Now that’s funny!!!

Thinking about going to Point Bonita tomorrow. If I go I’ll stop before crossing north and have a gander


4 posted on 07/05/2013 8:29:18 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: Revolting cat!

In San Francisco men are constantly trying to put things where they’re not designed to go.


5 posted on 07/05/2013 8:31:15 PM PDT by bramps (Sarah Palin got more votes in 2008 than Mitt Romney got in 2012)
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To: nickcarraway

“No I’m not stuck under the toll plaza, I was just hauling it and ran out of fuel!”


6 posted on 07/05/2013 8:32:37 PM PDT by Clay Moore ("In politics, stupidity is not a handicap." Napoleon Bonaparte)
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To: Revolting cat!
Are big rigs even allowed on GGB?

Yes. The driver should have heeded the sign and taken one of the lanes to the right.

7 posted on 07/05/2013 8:33:40 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: bramps

Post of the day!


8 posted on 07/05/2013 8:34:20 PM PDT by Proud2BeRight
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To: nickcarraway

There’s a big sign that says ‘Wide Lane’ with an arrow pointing right to the lane that he used. And, of course, he couldn’t use the wider lane next to it - it’s a diamond lane for buses and car pools.

It’s clearly the fault of the bridge authority.


9 posted on 07/05/2013 8:34:56 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Fiji Hill

Here in Boston on Storrow Drive, they have overpasses that are REALLY low, just over 10 feet (perhaps 10,4”) and they have big metal hanging things that bash into your vehicle about 40 yards away, but...

People still find a way to get wedged under them. You would think one of the stoned college students would say “Dude! What was that noise?”

But, no.


10 posted on 07/05/2013 8:37:10 PM PDT by rlmorel (Silence: The New Hate Speech)
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To: nickcarraway; a fool in paradise

An easy mistake to make - I do it all the time!


11 posted on 07/05/2013 8:39:08 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: PAR35

So, was the trailer a 9 footer?


12 posted on 07/05/2013 8:41:36 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: rlmorel
Here in Boston on Storrow Drive, they have overpasses that are REALLY low, just over 10 feet (perhaps 10,4”) and they have big metal hanging things that bash into your vehicle about 40 yards away, but...

We have some in Little Rock that are the same. One in particular on 9th Street is 10'6". One of my new drivers, in 2005, drove a 13'6" box truck under that overpass - never hit the brakes and made it all the way through. The top was peeled off like a sardine can. $46,000 in damage in under 5 seconds.

13 posted on 07/05/2013 8:43:03 PM PDT by RobertClark (My shrink just killed himself - he blamed me in his note!)
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To: nickcarraway
"obnoxiously blocking three southbound lanes "

Wtf. Can those peeps count?

14 posted on 07/05/2013 8:43:18 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: nickcarraway
I'd bet dude became distracted seeing all the Beemer babes driving in from Marin!


15 posted on 07/05/2013 8:43:36 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: RobertClark
"$46,000 in damage in under 5 seconds. "

And here I thought that computers were the devices that in the hands of "amateurs" could create havoc at a great rate.

16 posted on 07/05/2013 8:45:04 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Revolting cat!

What’s her maximum acceleration rate (in/sec/sec)?


17 posted on 07/05/2013 8:46:22 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: rlmorel
“Dude! What was that noise?” I think has been replaced by “Like, oh my God, like what was that noise. A-may-zing.”
18 posted on 07/05/2013 8:46:34 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement ("World Peace 1.20.09.")
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To: nickcarraway

Often they are paying more attention to where the GPS tells them to go instead of their surroundings. They will ignore the signs, warning lights, chains and everything else that is put up to warn people just because TomTom told them to go that way.


19 posted on 07/05/2013 8:52:32 PM PDT by yawningotter
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To: PAR35

Um, no. The sign points to the two lanes to the right, Lanes 1 and 2, and says “Trucks and Buses must use wide lanes”.

The driver was a moron.


20 posted on 07/05/2013 8:53:03 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Liberalism. Ideas so great they have to be mandatory.-FReeper Osage Orange)
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