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Official Says Clearing Ben Franklin Bridge By AM Rush After Truck Accident Was Not Doable

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It took crews about 13 hours to upright a tractor-trailer that overturned early last night on the off-ramp of the westbound Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Why did it take so long to clear the accident scene?

John Hanson, chief executive officer  of the Delaware River Port Authority, says removing the truck and its load of kiwi fruit was a huge undertaking.

"The nature of the load (and) the damage to the truck contributed to our inability to lift the truck until sometime during the (Thursday morning) rush hour.  An attempt was made at 4:30 (am) -- there was still too much fruit on the truck.  The truck has a split in the side, and it couldn't be safely lifted at that time,"  Hanson told KYW Newsradio.

He said the bridge's off-ramp had to be closed during the operation to right the truck, and that's why they wanted to wait until the morning rush wound down.

The truck, which overturned about 8:30pm, was eventually righted about 9:30 this morning.

Hanson says it appears that speed was a factor in the accident.   The investigation is continuing.   Officials say neither of the two occupants of the truck were injured.

 

 

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