There’s debris danger on Massachusetts roads and highways. Pieces of concrete and metal have been falling from bridges and overpasses right into cars.
“When it hit, my vision was blurred but it was because the windshield cracked and exploded on me,” said Leonard Brown after a chunk of concrete crashed through his windshield. The concrete fell from a Somerville overpass earlier this year.
“It’s concerning. If I had anyone else in the car they would have been extremely injured or killed,” said Brown.
Steve Kingsbury also got a smashing surprise driving through East Milton Square on I-93 last fall.
“It shook me up a lot. All of a sudden it was a very large noise and my windshield just shattered in this area,” said Kingsbury.
He isn’t sure what exactly fell from the overpass because, luckily, it didn’t make it through his windshield.
“Not even a cut, I was very fortunate, although I was covered in glass. Until you see the windshield, you don’t realize the extent of what really happened to me, and how lucky I was,” said Kingsbury.
WHDH obtained records from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation showing 16 reports of falling debris in the past year.
“That’s almost frightening to hear,” said Kingsbury.
In Charlestown, a concrete pillar that supports the Tobin Bridge is crumbling, sending pieces falling onto police cars parked below. A Boston Police Department spokesperson says no one was hurt, but the concrete dented two police cars and smashed the windshields of two others.
In Boxford, pieces of metal have fallen from this bridge over I-95. No damage has been reported, but rusty metal pieces are laying under the bridge. Even a small piece could be trouble if it crashes into the windshield of a moving car.
Other incidents include concrete falling from this bridge over the Mass Pike in Charlton and a piece of metal falling from this Saugus bridge, hitting a car.
“That’s a lot of incidents in a short period of time,” said Kingsbury.
MassDOT tells 7-Investigates they take all reports of falling debris from bridges and overpasses seriously. They say engineering crews are sent out to inspect structures whenever a report is received.
The agency says it will spend more than $3 billion over the next five years to repair and rebuild bridges across the state.
“I was very fortunate. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen to somebody else,” said Kingsbury.
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