Terror as bridge collapse crushes Fortuner and taxi
TWO people were killed and 23 were injured when a bridge collapsed in Johannesburg yesterday.
A temporary bridge weighing about 30 tons collapsed on terrified motorists on the M1 at Sandton in Johannesburg just after 3pm.
Traumatised survivors were seen consoling each other at the roadside and emergency workers worked into the night trying to extricate the last two injured people.
On the northbound carriageway, a blue Toyota Fortuner with a Durban registration was one of the vehicles struck by the falling bridge. There were five occupants of the car. The front passenger, believed to be an adult male, died, while the female driver was seriously injured and flown to hospital.
On the southbound side, a Toyota Hi-Ace taxi was hit. The driver was killed and two passengers at the front were injured. Two taxi passengers were trapped for hours while emergency services battled to free them, using the Jaws of Life.
It was still not clear last night how many of the injured had been in vehicles or were pedestrians.
The bridge is a Murray & Roberts project, a temporary pedestrian bridge over the M1 immediately north of Grayston Drive – linking Alexandra and Sandton. The bridge is part of the EcoMobility project, an initiative by the City of Johannesburg to reduce traffic congestion in Sandton by encouraging the use of public transport and other alternative modes travelling, including cycling.
Last night it still was not clear what had caused the bridge to collapse, smashing tons of steel scaffolding on to the busy highway.
Emergency services struggled to get to the scene as irate drivers would not give way and blocked emergency lanes.
The injured were all finally freed by 7pm and flown to hospital, said city officials.
“We have recovered them, all of them. We are only left with the bodies,” said Joburg emergency services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi at the scene.
The wreckage of the vehicles was still under the rubble, with the lights of the Fortuner still on.
Massive cranes were brought in to start lifting steel and debris.
A 400-ton crane was brought through rush-hour traffic to the north side, and a 300-ton crane to the south side. Riggers went to the scene to set up the cranes for a tandem lift to pick up the rubble.
Last night, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi expressed shock, but said the bridge project would continue.
He said it was particularly unfortunate that it happened during Transport Month and the Sandton EcoMobility festival, and that the whole idea of the bridge was to promote non-motorised transport.
“Ten thousand people cross the highway every day,” said Tau, and added that the bridge was essential.