Footscray police say it is extremely lucky that nobody was injured or killed when a truck carrying a freight container crashed into Footscray’s Napier Street rail bridge last Thursday.
Footscray’s Inspector Tony Long said the container that toppled off the truck and smashed through the pedestrian railings could easily have killed or seriously injured a passerby.
PICTURE GALLERY: Truck crashes into Footscray’s Napier Street bridge
“I can’t for the life of me work out why truck drivers insist on using this route if their truck is oversized,” he said.
Inspector Long said accidents continue to occur despite warning signs and flashing lights on the approach to the bridge.
“The bridge has been there a long time and does not get any higher or lower depending on conditions.”
A Metro Trains spokeswoman said the latest incident was the 21st time a truck had crashed into the bridge since November 2009.
Trains were delayed on the Werribee and Williamstown lines while the bridge was inspected for safety.
Westbound lanes were closed while the container was removed.
Inspector Long said the driver would be fined about $900 while his employer would be forced to pay for haulage of the container and safety inspections of the bridge.
