Wolf Blitzer To NTSB Spokesperson... How about signs... (I-5 Bridge Collapse)

[Up2Late]

17. Here's another piece of the puzzle, from one of the surviving witnesses

Trucker with wide load likely cut off at Skagit bridge

BY Tim Haeck on May 24, 2013 @ 11:02 am (Updated: 1:59 pm - 5/24/13 )

Truckers know the dangers of oversized loads and how to maneuver those big rigs along narrow roadways, such as the I-5 bridge across the Skagit River.

Other drivers might get angry if they don't understand why a trucker would hog the road approaching a narrow bridge. Puyallup trucker Jim Detwiler has crossed the Skagit River bridge many times and explained how it's done with an oversized load.

"The normal procedure would be for a trucker to position themselves in both lanes, going down the center to give themselves enough space for clear passage."

Bridge collapse survivor Dan Sligh said he saw the truck displaying the wide load sign approach the bridge with a load that appeared to be 3 or 4 feet wider than the actual bridge.

"And at the last minute, there was a second semi that came up on the left side, it appeared, like it almost pinned that truck in from being able to come over left," said Sligh. "At that point, the wide load caught the right side of the bridge."

(more at link)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2281588/Trucker-with-wide-load-likely-cut-off-at-Skagit-bridge