Urban wheeling: where NOT to go!

[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.