SPOKANE, Wash. — Well, it's happened again, another truck got stuck under the Stevens overpass in downtown Spokane on Monday. This time it was so bad the tow company actually had to lower the tire pressure, to get the truck low enough to pull it out.
This kind of situation used to happen so frequently that about a year ago the city finally installed sensors to warn drivers if their trailer is too high.
The sensor system cost about $30,000 each to purchase and install. So far police say it's worth the investment.
Despite the latest incident, the Spokane Police Department said since installing the new sensors about one year ago, they've seen "a significant difference." The number of trucks getting wedged underneath the overpass has reduced by more than 50%.
Investigators said the driver actually ignored the warning lights telling him to turn around. The driver was cited for failing to obey traffic signs and was fined $187.
Police say incidents like this can be prevented and the reduction in stuck trucks shows why the sensors are necessary.
KREM 2 looked into the numbers and over the last decade more than three dozen semi-trucks tried to push the limits and it didn't end up too well for them.
In response to the large number of collisions to the overpass, the City of Spokane installed new technology to prevent this from happening. The height limit at the Stevens overpass is 11 feet six inches. Anything above that height will pass through lasers and trigger flashing lights. The hope is the lights will alert the driver early enough so they can change their route.
Last year, the city told KREM 2 the cost of installing 10 systems around the city would cost about $500,000. They hope to fund the project through grants or the general fund. Due to the success of the sensors, the city plans to use the sensors at other problem areas in the city such as the overpass at Division and the one on Sprague.