[article] Scrap dealer with no head for heights hits two bridges

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Irish Independent

Scrap dealer with no head for heights hits two bridges

The truck which caused chaos in Dublin city centre yesterday after its driver hit two bridges while carrying a precarious high load

A SCRAP dealer who loaded his truck with four clapped-out cars caused mayhem in Dublin city centre yesterday when he struck two bridges in the space of half an hour.

When questioned by Iarnrod Eireann engineers, the driver allegedly gave his address as being at a roundabout in Santry and turned out to be driving with no insurance.

Our pictures show the dangerous load he was carrying, with four cars precariously piled on top of each other and held in place by a steel arm and a length of rope.

The first strike happened at 2pm when staff in Iarnrod Eireann headquarters heard a loud bang as the truck hit the Amiens Street bridge. After failing to travel underneath the first time, the driver reversed and made a second attempt only to be thwarted by his high load.

"He tried to go again and all the cars behind were beeping at him saying he wouldn't make it," a rail spokeswoman said.

"He did a U-turn, which caused huge problems, and went back around on to the quays."

But when he met the Loopline bridge at the Custom House it was a case of third time unlucky. Again, he struck the bridge, but instead of reversing and trying to go another way he gunned his engine and tried unsuccessfully to squeeze his way through.

"He got out and jumped on to the cars to try and stamp them down," the spokeswoman continued.

"He made contact with the Custom House bridge and got stuck but he kept going. To be going around the city with that load is just crazy."

She added that there was no structural damage to either bridge and that the company was considering whether to take a prosecution.

Sand and gravel company Drones Stones, based in Northern Ireland, said it had sold the truck three months ago and did not know the current owner.

No arrest was made and gardai from Store Street were yesterday examining the circumstances of the collision.

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