Pocono News Section

Deadly Turnpike Crash Update

Deadly Turnpike Crash Update - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 5:57PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 @ 05:57pm EST

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY -- The hunk of concrete that crashed through the windshield of a car on the Turnpike killing a man last week came from a bridge scheduled for repairs.

The hole in the bridge over Route 209 is clearly visible, and estimated by police to be about 6"x6"x13" big. State police say the concrete was kicked up and crashed through the windshield of Pierre Louverture's car and killed him.

The PA Turnpike's web site shows more than $14 million in studies and repairs on that bridge kicked off in 2007, but major repairs won't take place until 2011.

Turnpike officials tell us the bridge has been inspected every two years as required and was set for another inspection this summer.