Speed blamed for fatal big rig crash on Bay Bridge this morning

By Robert D. Davila - bdavila@sacbee.com

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Excessive speed is being blamed for a fatal crash that saw a big rig plunge 200 feet off the upper deck of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge onto Yerba Buena Island below this morning.

The driver of a big rig fully loaded with pears was killed in the crash at about 3:30 a.m. today after going too fast through a tight section of the bridge, the California Highway Patrol said.

The far right lane on the upper deck was closed until about 8 a.m. while Caltrans officials inspected the scene, CHP Sgt. Trent Cross said. That lane has been reopened.

Call The Bee's Robert D. Davila, (916) 321-1079.

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Witnesses said the truck was traveling westbound at about 50 mph as it approached the "S" curve of the bridge, just east of the tunnel, Cross said. That speed in the 40 mph zone caused the cargo to shift and sent the truck-and-trailer rig over the side of the bridge to Yerba Buena Island, Cross said.

Crews also cleaned up about 150 gallons of fuel that leaked from the truck, Cross said.

Officials were not releasing the driver's name until relatives could be notified.

There have been about 40 crashes on the "S" curve section since it opened in September, Cross said. He blamed the incidents on speeding.

"Thousands of motorists cross the bridge safely every day," Cross said. "So the the issue clearly is speeding. If you drive on that section at the 40 mph speed limit, you will make it safely across."