Traffic on Main Street was periodically impacted this afternoon after what was described as a compact excavator on a trailer struck the railroad bridge over Main Street causing the equipment to topple over onto the road.
A part of the excavator’s upper arm, called a knuckle, caught the bridge as the pickup truck pulling the trailer was heading westbound on Main Street about noon today according to the driver. This caused the equipment to topple over, striking the pavement.
The pickup and trailer were able to pull into a parking area by the City of Ferndale Pump Station #2 and a compact front loader was brought in to attempt to right the equipment back onto the trailer. Soon after they realized it was a job for bigger equipment.
Berk’s Towing’s “Barney,” a super heavy duty wrecker with a 3-stage arm able to lift up to 55 tons arrived to help.
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Click for more informationBy 2:30pm, the wrecker, working in concert with the compact front loader, had the equipment set upright back on the trailer.
A BNSF employee could be seen inspecting what appeared to be only superficial damage to the bridge.
Ferndale City staff opened the gate to the pump house parking area and Ferndale Police assisted with traffic control as needed during the recovery effort. Ferndale Police say no citation was issued.