Crane Accident Causes $100,000 in I-75 Bridge Damage

A Friday morning accident involving a flatbed trailer, a crane and the Interstate 75 overpass along State Road 64 has resulted in an estimated $100,000 in damage.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 10:24 a.m. as Luis Cruz of Bradenton was driving a dump truck, towing a flatbed trailer with an excavator on it. As Crus headed west on State Road 64 under the overpass, the excavator’s boom struck the overpass twice.

“The excavator boom was not retracted properly when placed on the trailer and the boom arm was higher than allowed,” a highway patrol report stated.

The crash caused concrete to fall to the road below, forcing the closing of the Interstate off ramp and two lanes of State Road 64 traffic.

Engineers have estimated damage to the overpass at $100,000.

Cruz and his passenger were uninjured, troopers say.

Charges are pending completion of the investigation.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol

Keep up with what’s happening around town and the state by signing up for your favorite Patch daily newsletter: Bloomingdale-Riverview, Bradenton, Brandon, Carrollwood-Northdale, Clearwater, Dunedin, East Lake, Gulfport, Land O’ Lakes, Largo, Lutz, New Port Richey, New Tampa, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Beaches, Safety Harbor, Sarasota, Seminole Heights, South Tampa-Hyde Park, St. Pete, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, Westchase.