BRabbiT
04-15-2015, 08:54 AM
http://static1.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2184447.1429029645!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/index_635_390/390-overpass-0413.jpg
A couple in their 20s, who led a youth ministry, & their baby boy were driving underneath a highway overpass (http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/14/us/washington-overpass-accident-concrete-barrier/index.html)in Bonney Lake, a Seattle suburb, when other motorists heard the crackle of a pending collapse.
Concrete from a construction project crashed onto the family's car, killing Josh & Vanessa Ellis & their 8-month-old son, Hudson, authorities said.
Initial findings were that there was an ongoing construction project on the highway & a side jersey barrier "came loose and fell onto the roadway," said Officer Todd Green of the Bonney Lake PD.
"When it fell off the overpass, it landed square on the roof of the vehicle," Green added
Motorist Dawn Nelson was driving behind the Ellis' vehicle.
"I was just a second or two behind him...I could hear the 3 crunch sounds & then it just came down."
Neighbors recounted a violent collapse.
"I thought a semi had come down the guardrail here in front," said neighbor Katie Vance.
She felt the crash inside her home.
"It was a metal sound & a very heavy sound ... it was through your feet - like a guttural. It shook the whole house."
John Oliver sprayed blame (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpzvaqypav8) on politicians’ do-nothing approach to grappling with the United State's crumbling infrastructure on Last Week Tonight.
The long & detailed segment included a shot at Congress for twiddling its thumbs in about the starving Highway Trust Fund.
More accurately, CBS News’ 60 Minutes warned of the coming disaster (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k35gSAOv-Qk)— Oliver’s show mostly rehashed a 60 Minutes report.
Oliver created a trailer for a faux action movie, Infrastructure, starring Ed Norton & Steve Buscemi.
Infrastructure, aka “anything that can be destroyed in an action movie,” as Oliver explained.
The problem with discussing infrastructure is that, when not being destroyed by robots or saved by Bruce Willis, it’s boring.
Oliver admitted he was fascinated by the subject but acknowledged that in so saying he has “basically become the rad youth counselor trying to convince you Jesus was the Taylor Swift of his time.”
– "Much like most Botox recipients & most competitive cloggers, the average dam (in the US) is 52 years old & has something deeply broken inside of it."
– "At this point we’re not just flirting with disaster — we’re rounding 3rd base & asking if Disaster has any condoms."
– "The problem is, no one has made a blockbuster movie about the importance of routine maintenance &repair. Or they hadn’t until now."
tragic that this family died.
the 60 minutes segment (linked above) was interesting. the bridges & dams in the US are mostly ancient & it's a ticking time bomb.
bet this happens again (& again). this issue is only going to get worse as bridges & dams get even older.
doubt this problem gets much mention in the federal election circus, though:hammerhead:
A couple in their 20s, who led a youth ministry, & their baby boy were driving underneath a highway overpass (http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/14/us/washington-overpass-accident-concrete-barrier/index.html)in Bonney Lake, a Seattle suburb, when other motorists heard the crackle of a pending collapse.
Concrete from a construction project crashed onto the family's car, killing Josh & Vanessa Ellis & their 8-month-old son, Hudson, authorities said.
Initial findings were that there was an ongoing construction project on the highway & a side jersey barrier "came loose and fell onto the roadway," said Officer Todd Green of the Bonney Lake PD.
"When it fell off the overpass, it landed square on the roof of the vehicle," Green added
Motorist Dawn Nelson was driving behind the Ellis' vehicle.
"I was just a second or two behind him...I could hear the 3 crunch sounds & then it just came down."
Neighbors recounted a violent collapse.
"I thought a semi had come down the guardrail here in front," said neighbor Katie Vance.
She felt the crash inside her home.
"It was a metal sound & a very heavy sound ... it was through your feet - like a guttural. It shook the whole house."
John Oliver sprayed blame (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpzvaqypav8) on politicians’ do-nothing approach to grappling with the United State's crumbling infrastructure on Last Week Tonight.
The long & detailed segment included a shot at Congress for twiddling its thumbs in about the starving Highway Trust Fund.
More accurately, CBS News’ 60 Minutes warned of the coming disaster (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k35gSAOv-Qk)— Oliver’s show mostly rehashed a 60 Minutes report.
Oliver created a trailer for a faux action movie, Infrastructure, starring Ed Norton & Steve Buscemi.
Infrastructure, aka “anything that can be destroyed in an action movie,” as Oliver explained.
The problem with discussing infrastructure is that, when not being destroyed by robots or saved by Bruce Willis, it’s boring.
Oliver admitted he was fascinated by the subject but acknowledged that in so saying he has “basically become the rad youth counselor trying to convince you Jesus was the Taylor Swift of his time.”
– "Much like most Botox recipients & most competitive cloggers, the average dam (in the US) is 52 years old & has something deeply broken inside of it."
– "At this point we’re not just flirting with disaster — we’re rounding 3rd base & asking if Disaster has any condoms."
– "The problem is, no one has made a blockbuster movie about the importance of routine maintenance &repair. Or they hadn’t until now."
tragic that this family died.
the 60 minutes segment (linked above) was interesting. the bridges & dams in the US are mostly ancient & it's a ticking time bomb.
bet this happens again (& again). this issue is only going to get worse as bridges & dams get even older.
doubt this problem gets much mention in the federal election circus, though:hammerhead: