Urban wheeling: where NOT to go!

[The_War_Wagon]

On the 'T' tracks, near Station Square, in Pittsburgh!



http://www.wpxi.com/news/29873686/detail.html

Screen shots from the evening news.




I thought at first, it MIGHT be a Commander, but the rear badging looks 'wrong.' Anyone wanna hazard a guess?

[XK N00b]

Not a Commander, Possibly a Toyota Sequoia. Emblem above the plate looks oval, doesn't look like an Explorer though.

[LWM]

My bet is on a KIA

[hoaxci5]

Ford Expedition

[Ross]

It is either a Ford Escape, or the Mazda counterpart, the "Tribute".

[hoaxci5]

^^ Looks bigger than that to me

[Holaday07 4.7]

Looks like the 2012 Explorer to me

[The_War_Wagon]

MORE 'urban wheeling' misadventures. Interstate edition.

Was looking for something un-related, when I came across the Rostraver Township (Westmoreland Co., PA - southeast of Pittsburgh - near I-70) VFD page. This one caught my eye. Dodge Nitro 4x4, vs. stopped 18 wheeler...




Accompanying story says (http://www.rostravercentral.com/)...

DRIVER KILLED IN I-70 ACCIDENT
10/22/11-- The driver of a westbound SUV was killed and his passenger seriously injured when their vehicle collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 70 at Mile 46. Assistant 105-2 arrived first, confirmed two injuries with an unresponsive patient heavily entrapped, and added Rescue 17 (Smithton) to the alarm. Rostraver Medics assessed the driver to be DOA and requested air medical transport for the passenger. Engine 17 set up a landing zone just west of the accident scene. Fire units assisted on scene while the State Police and County Coroner conducted their investigation. I-70 West was closed for more than 4 hours following the crash.

Ouch.

[The_War_Wagon]

Ford Explorer drops 60' from a bridge!

I can actually speak a little more to this, as far as background in concerned.

I live about 5 miles from this bridge, although it's not one I cross regularly. I was last over it about 2 weeks ago, however, and the road is still immaculate. For years, it had been one of the CRAPPIEST bridges around; Compasses and some Patriots were know to need to switch to 4-Lo, to climb back OUT of the potholes, once they drove in. They repaved it last summer though, and I dare say it's arguably the BEST bridge surface in Pittsburgh these days.

There are also 3-4' high dividers/retaining walls on it, so to get OVER them, takes an effort that I'm having a hard time picturing, personally. CLEARLY, it CAN be done, so I'm guessing speed was also involved in this accident, as the police chief noted. Here's a picture of the bridge, for reference - this was BEFORE it was repaved (she was actually coming from the opposite direction. It IS a four lane bridge - these are the east-bound lanes)!

We had 6" of snow last Friday, but it was 62^o here on Monday, so it's all melted, so that wasn't an issue. Like all high speed wrecks at 3 in the am, my first thought is (and particularly given the neighborhoods around this bridge), 'Are drugs/alcohol also involved?'

Here another news site, with more pictures and a continually updating story about the crash - http://www.wtae.com/news/30294098/detail.html

And another - with imbedded newscast. http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/...port-accident/

Couple more screen captures.