Falling U-turn bridge kills two on highway

The beam of the U-turn flyover fell on Rama II Highway in Muang district, Samut Sakhon, on Sunday night. (Photo: Highways Department)
The ray of the U-turn flyover fell on Rama II Highway in Muang district, Samut Sakhon, on Sunday night. (Photo: Roads Department)

SAMUT SAKHON: A couple were killed and one was injured any time a beam of a U-turn flyover fell onto Rama II Highway in Muang area Sunday night.

The incident happened at the thirty four th kilometre gun on Rama II Highway aka Thon Buri-Pak Tho before Vibharam Samutsakhon Hospital at about 8. 30pm.

The huge concrete ray, about 10 metres long weighing regarding five tonnes, together with its concrete rail guard fell onto three vehicles moving underneath the U-turn flyover that was closed pertaining to maintenance.

The beam hit directly a Chevrolet car and partially a pickup truck plus an empty oil container truck on the Bangkok-bound side of the highway.

A woman who was the front passenger of the car had been killed instantly. Its driver was pulled out of the car simply by eyewitnesses. Five individuals on the pickup truck were narrowly unscathed since only the front from the truck was crunched. Two workers were injured and one of them later succumbed to injuries. They were working on the particular flyover.

The incident caused heavy traffic congestion on the highway as employees were removing the debris from its exhibit lanes. Motorists might use only its frontage lanes. Highways authorities closed the expressway lanes for fear of the unsecure construction of the U-turn flyover.

The Highways Department got closed the old U-turn flyover since June 23 for upkeep due to its wear and tear.

It had been greatly used by big vehicles. Its surface has been eroded and showed the steel rods that reinforced it. The maintenance was earlier set intended for completion at the end of this particular month.