Toll Holdings LTD has admitted its error in a crash in Dunedin yesterday, which destroyed a 104-year-old pedestrian bridge and injured a young Australian tourist.
A ‘‘local'' shunt train travelling to the wharves at Dunedin destroyed the middle section of the Dunedin railway pedestrian overbridge after metal flaps on a container, being carried on a wagon, flew up, Toll spokeswoman Sue Foley said. The incident occurred about 4.50pm.
The container had been collapsed so it could fit under the footbridge, which runs between Castle St and Thomas Burns St, but the collapsible equipment malfunctioned and part of the container lifted, striking the bridge.
Ms Foley said Toll had serious concerns about the incident. An investigation, involving all necessary authorities, would begin immediately.
The 17-year-old tourist received minor injuries after she fell about 4.5m from the bridge at the Thomas Burns St end, near the skate park. About three other people were on undamaged sections of the bridge.
St John Ambulance regional operations manager Doug Third said the teenager was taken to Dunedin Hospital with minor scrapes and bruises to her head, shoulder and leg.
A woman who was on the bridge when it started to collapse was still shaking about 20 minutes later. She said she was walking near the Castle St end when the wooden panels in front of her began to separate.
A woman ahead of her froze in shock and squatted where she was, so she ran and grabbed her, pulling her away from the falling section of the bridge. Three British tourists who were walking down the stairs nearest the railway station said they heard a massive crack.
Tim Wagg, of Manchester, said he heard a ‘‘ridiculously loud'' noise and looked back to see the bridge destroyed. The teenager who fell was only a metre or so from being safe, he said.
Lindsay McLeod, a Dunedin photographer, said he saw the train coming, with the flaps up on the container, as he crossed the bridge. He heard what ‘‘sounded like an earthquake'' and grabbed a rail ‘‘and just held on''.
One woman said she saw the Australian tourist fall off the bridge. A large crowd gathered. Many commented on how lucky it was the incident had not happened 10 minutes later when the bridge would have been busy with commuters crossing on their way home.
Dunedin City Council city environment general manager Tony Avery said he had sent contractors to secure the site. Three cranes were working at the scene last night, watched by at least 100 people.
The wagon was lifted back onto the track, and damaged sections of the bridge were being removed. Council workers would assess the situation today and determine whether the bridge could be repaired, he said.
The bridge underwent a $170,000 revamp in 2004 when it was closed for three months to allow the Australian hardwood decking to be replaced and the bridge to be stripped, cleaned and repainted.
The bridge was also closed for a short time last year so the surface could be painted with a substance to stop people slipping when the wooden surface was wet.
