Mar 28, 2009 12:00 am US/Eastern
Whitestone Back To Business After Sign Collapse
2 Injured After Truck Strikes Sign, Triggering Scary Moment
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A road sign collapse on the Whitestone Bridge left two injured and closed down the bridge in both directions.
CBS
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A road sign collapse on the Whitestone Bridge left two injured and closed down the bridge in both directions.
CBS
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A road sign collapse on the Whitestone Bridge left two injured and closed down the bridge in both directions.
CBS
Both sides of the Whitestone Bridge have re-opened Friday night after traffic was snarled by a collapsed road sign earlier in the day.
The sign fell after being struck by a boom truck on the Whitestone Bridge in Queens, closing the bridge in both directions.
The truck, which had a crane attached to the back, was driving near the Queens anchorage when the top portion of the crane struck the overhead sign.
The impact took down the sign and the gantry -- the metal system that supports signs -- blocking all five lanes (three southbound and two north bound, or Bronx-bound lanes) and closing the bridge in both directions.
"It just came down," Faircloth said. "There was a little bit of dust – you could tell something happened in front of me, and then when I stopped, you could see clearly the cherry picker hit the sign in half and brought it down."
Two workers were injured as a result of the incident. The workers were transferred to New York Hospital, one with serious head trauma. The other suffered less serious injuries. No one else was injured in the collapse.
"One car got hit - a Mercedes," Faircloth said. "They were okay."
The accident occurred near the approach to the Bronx-bound side of the bridge.
Chopper 2 HD was over the scene of the accident, where the large green exit sign could be seen split in half on the bridge.
The boom truck, which had been stationed up ahead, did not appear to have suffered significant damage. Crews were on the scene.
Construction has been called off on the Throgs Neck and RFK Bridges to allow access to all lanes as an alternate route for commuters.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels says it plans to have the bridge cleared and opened for traffic at around 5 p.m., in time for the brunt of the evening rush.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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