What we know about the collapse of I-95 in Philadelphia
A section of I-95 in Philadelphia collapsed Sunday after a fiery crash involving a tanker loaded with gasoline. Officials warned it could take months to replace the elevated stretch of road, further complicating traffic problems in one of the country’s largest cities this summer.
The crash on I-95, which runs along the east coast from Maine to South Florida, has left part of the highway’s northern side in a shambles and the southern section so badly damaged that it will be demolished this week. .
Authorities have warned that the investigation into the crash and collapse of the overpass has only just begun, but here’s what we know so far.
Authorities believe the driver has lost control of the tanker.
Pennsylvania officials said the driver was traveling north on I-95 early Sunday and lost control while taking the left turn off a northeastern Philadelphia exit ramp.
The truck, which was carrying about 8,500 gallons of gasoline, “landed on its side and ruptured the tank and ignited the fire,” Pennsylvania transportation secretary Mike Carroll said at a news conference Monday.
A team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday and was due to issue a preliminary report within two to three weeks.
It is feared that the driver was killed in the accident.
Pennsylvania State Police announced Monday afternoon that a body had been found in the rubble, but authorities were still identifying the remains.
Relatives of Nathan Moody, a 53-year-old truck driver who lived in New Jersey and delivered fuel to area gas stations, said police contacted them seeking dental records.
The intensity of the fire most likely caused the collapse.
Mr Carroll said there were no concerns about the bridge before the accident and described it as structurally sound and about 10 to 12 years old. Officials and structural engineers have said the heat generated by the fire, which lasted about an hour, could melt or weaken the steel beams supporting the viaduct.
Professor Abi Aghayere of Drexel University told The Associated Press that bridges like this typically lack fire protection such as concrete encasements.
A section of the southbound road was also damaged and efforts to demolish it were due to begin as early as Monday.
Repairing this section of the highway could take months.
This section of the highway, in northeast Philadelphia near the Delaware River, is used by about 160,000 vehicles daily, officials said. But much of the interstate traffic traveling through the region already bypasses Philadelphia via the New Jersey Turnpike, which runs roughly parallel to I-95 east of the river and merges with I-95 further north on its way to New York City.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Sunday that he expected repairing the damaged section of the highway to take months.
Other highways that suffered similar damage in the past took several weeks to repair, said Thomas Gernay, an assistant professor of engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
“We are in an unfortunate situation where the fire is starting just below a structure,” he said.
Officials added extra cars to commuter trains, arranged diversions and offered free parking at some public transport lots, but traffic was still a problem Monday.
“We’re asking people to be patient,” said Mr. Carroll, the transportation secretary.
Jon Hurdle, Campbell Robertson And Amanda Holpuch reporting contributed.