Death-plunge trucker's family files claim

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

(04-28) 17:34 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- An attorney for the family of a 56-year-old truck driver who plummeted from the upper deck of the Bay Bridge in November filed a claim against Caltrans on Wednesday, saying there weren't adequate warning signs alerting drivers to the bridge's new S-curve.

Tahir Sheikh Fakhar of Hayward died when his truck went over the northern side of the S-curve at 3:30 a.m. Nov. 9. California Highway Patrol investigators said they believed Fakhar was driving 10 mph over the 40 mph speed limit as he approached the curve, which had opened Sept. 8 as part of the eastern span replacement project.

The attorney for Fakhar's family, Lewis Van Blois, said it was the first time the veteran trucker had driven over the bridge since the curve was installed. There had been 43 accidents on the curve before Fakhar's, but none was fatal.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/28/BAHO1D6IKH.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

[XOKCowboy]

1. 43 accidents out of how many hundred thousand vehicles every day

who do make that corner? I'm sorry for the family but inattentive driving gets you killed.

[Kali]

3. I think that was 43 accidents in one month, it had only been opened the month before

at least that is how I read it. That seems kind of high.

[XOKCowboy]

4. In a new construction zone on a major bridge it is a lot of accidents...

but my point still stands. The traffic count on that bridge is immense and percentage wise 43 is about right in the first month. Also it was 3:30AM so the traffic was light and he was possibly speeding. The large orange construction signs are usually enough for me to slow down especially if I'm unfamiliar with the road I'm driving on.

So many other factors than inadequate signage went into this. I think it's an overzealous lawyer who smells a big pay off.

[leeloo]

2. OH please it is always someone elses fault ,give me money..