Photo by Mike Jachles (BSFR/ PIO)
At approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, after a crash with another vehicle in the westbound lanes of Hillsboro Boulevard, a grey pickup careened about 30 feet off the bridge and onto the access road below as it crossed the Intracoastal Waterway, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Public Information Officer (BSFR PIO) Mike Jachles.
Lucky for the driver, the pickup landed on the road and not in the water.
“It was just a few feet from the Intracoastal. The vehicle could have ended submerged,” Jachles said. “Fortunately, there was no one beneath where the car landed. We couldn’t have imagined a better outcome for this.”
When responders arrived, the driver was out of his vehicle. The other man involved in the crash appeared to be alright as well. While the second man in the crash refused medical attention, the man in the pickup was transported to Broward Health North to make sure he was okay.
The scene was in clear view of the diners at Two George’s at The Cove, who got quite the show. Luckily, the drivers involved in this incident walked away from the situation, which could have been much worse.
Bridge inspector Fred Schonis said he has never seen a car go off this bridge before.
“I have seen two [cars go off bridges] in 27 years. This one and the old 17th Street years ago,” he said.
He said the bridge is currently under repair and expects the job to be complete by the end of the week.
He said they have to replace the handrail, fix the bent guardrail and replace the no parking sign beneath the bridge.
