Workers begin removing bags
of salt from the overweight truck so that they can eventually pull the truck
out and repair the bridge.
Patcharapol Panrak
A 100-year-old Sattahip bridge collapsed under the weight
of a 10-wheeled truck tried to drive across it loaded with 18 tons of salt.
The mid-section of the Pratuang Fish Bridge, the Samut
Songkhram truck loaded with fish-packing salt and driver Chaiya Mongkol all
tumbled into the ocean Aug. 1. Chaiya was rescued unhurt by Sawang
Rojanadhammasathn Sattahip Foundation medics.
Chaiya said he was en route to coastal fishing piers to
deliver salt they’d use to freeze their catches when, about 50 meters from
the shoreline, he heard the bridge begin to crack. It collapsed before he
could traverse the span.
Police said the century-old bridge is likely to be
repaired. No mention was made of enforcing weight limits for trucks using
it.
