Update: 4:10 p.m.
A Surrey company has been suspended and all of its vehicles halted after a driver plowed through trolley wires with an over height load in Vancouver.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch investigated the April 2 incident, which happened around 11 p.m.
Supersonic Transport's entire fleet of 92 vehicles will be grounded effective 6 p.m. Thursday “pending the outcome of a safety investigation,” said the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
According to the company’s LinkedIn profile, Supersonic Transport provides service to B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Seattle, Portland and California. Its headquarters are run out of Surrey.
Original: 10:55 a.m.
A commercial truck driver carrying an excavator is facing numerous fines after causing significant damage to infrastructure in Vancouver.
Vancouver Police Department caught the driver around 11 p.m. on April 2 driving on East Hastings Street.
Officers with VPD’s traffic unit said the driver took out trolley lines for Coast Mountain Bus Company at Commercial Drive and East Hastings Street.
The tractor-trailer was over height at 5.18 metres. The max height is 4.15 metres.
“[It] would have hit [the] overpasses had they made it to Highway 1,” said a spokesperson.
The driver was carrying an excavator that sustained major damage, including the glass window being shattered.
Metro Vancouver Transit Police are leading the investigation and confirm the driver has been fined with eight offences totalling $1,064.
The driver was fined for:
- exceeding maximum vehicle height
- oversize load no warning lights
- failing to have a proper warning device
- carrier permits operation without proper equipment
- disobeying posted size or weight sign
- dimensions did not conform
- failing to carry a permit
- failing to have an oversize sign
Const. Amanda Steed said no one was injured.
As of Thursday morning, the load and semi-truck were still at the scene.
"Our primary role is traffic control because there are significant disruptions that will continue for a while," said Sgt. Steve Addison.
Transit police officers and Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement officers are investigating.
"Given the size of the load, we are currently waiting for a crane to assist in safely transporting the excavator back to the Port of Vancouver,” said Steed.
A spokesperson with TransLink said the trolley wires are still down between Clark and Commercial drives as of 10:50 a.m.
A total of three bus routes — number 14, 16 and 20 — are currently being impacted and detours are in place.
"Customers should expect delays and build additional time into their commutes while the trolley wires are being repaired,” said Jawn Jang with TransLink.
There is no current timeline on when service will be restored.
