Radnor bridge has another unhappy date with truck
RADNOR » The King of Prussia Road bridge under the SEPTA Paoli-Thorndale line near Matsonford Road was struck for the third time in the past few weeks on Monday morning when a truck that was too tall to fit under it slammed into the structure, authorities said.
The crash occurred about 11 a.m. when a truck carrying HVAC equipment was driving south when he hit the bridge. Radnor police and fire were alerted shortly after 11 a.m. for the accident. Nobody was injured. A power line that runs under the bridge was effected; however, train traffic was able to continue. Amtrak and Peco officials were on location surveying the damage and traffic was able to pass.
Warnings leading up to the bridge state the clearance at 10 feet, 10 inches, markings on the truck stated its height at 13 feet.
“This is the third time in the last few weeks this bridge has been struck,” said Richard Booker, Radnor’s Second Ward commissioner, who was out surveying the damage after he heard the commotion from his nearby home. “These trucks should not be on King of Prussia Road. We have signs warning that the clearance is 10 feet 10 inches but there is just too much traffic on King of Prussia Road.”
Radnor police statistics indicate the bridge has been hit 39 times since 2008, including two incidents in the past five days.
On Nov. 16 the bridge was struck by a tractortrailer loaded with plants. The rear of the truck was wedged against the bridge when the driver fled the scene in the tractor. The driver, Dolores Leger, 65, of Philadelphia eventually stopped after the remaining part of the rig caught fire at Airdale and Lancaster Avenue in Rosemont. She was charged with failure to stop and render aid, failure to notify police of accident, accident or damage to unattended vehicle or property and careless driving.
There was no word on any charges the driver in Monday’s accident would face. He stopped after the collision.
Booker said there are multiple signs warning drivers but the road is a popular route for truckers coming from King of Prussia and headed for the Blue Route. He said the township has $100,000 budgeted to invest in a detection alarm system that uses lasers to identify trucks that are too and alert drivers. Booker said many of which are rental trucks. He feels the system will help but won’t completely stop accidents because of the volume of traffic. He expressed further concern with new development planned along the road.
Booker said the township is also drafting an ordinance which would allow it to increase fines for trucks that strike the bridge.