How Did A Caterpillar Excavator Crash Through A Kansas Bridge? A Tragic Event

Due to serious damage caused by a hauling accident involving a Caterpillar 323 excavator, a rural bridge in Kansas will be closed until it is repaired. The South Morrill Road bridge over US 75 near Melvern Lake was involved in the incident on November 19. According to officials, repairs could cost as much as $1 million.

How did the accident occur?

The excavator was being transported on a trailer with its boom raised, according to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle’s boom and arm crook struck the west face of the bridge as it passed beneath it, puncturing the deck and lodging into the bridge. The impact caused several large holes in the concrete and nearly one-third of the superstructure to be compromised.

The truck driver, 46-year-old Jason Simbro, was driven to Stormont-Vail Health in Topeka with suspected minor injuries after authorities confirmed that no additional injuries were reported.

Did the accident cause severe harm?

The KDOT District One Public Information Officer, Kate Craft, provided precise damage measurements. The collision caused damage that was 4 to 6 feet wide along the west box face, a 10-by-11-foot hole in the bridge floor, and a 3-by-5-foot hole in the deck surface. In order to restore structural integrity, the South Morrill Road bridge, a three-cell reinforced concrete girder bridge constructed in 1974, will need extensive repairs.

When will the Kansas bridge be repaired?

In order to begin construction in the spring of 2026, the Kansas Department of Transportation has started the repair design process. The bridge will be closed for more than a year before it reopens to traffic in the middle to late part of 2026. Morrill Road will not be accessible at the location of the damaged bridge during this time.

Given the difficulty of repairing the significant structural damage brought on by the accident, KDOT’s preliminary estimates indicate that repair costs could range from $750,000 to $1 million.

What should equipment transporters learn from this accident?

This incident points out the significance of appropriate transport procedures, such as lowering booms and guaranteeing height clearances, even though accidents involving construction equipment are comparatively uncommon. It serves as a reminder to contractors, operators, and heavy equipment suppliers that when crucial safety measures are disregarded, even skilled drivers and securely fastened machinery can become dangerous.

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