Truck carrying an excavator hits Salerno-Avellino viaduct, debris falls on car and closes road

What happened

On Thursday, 29 October, in the early afternoon, part of an overpass on the Avellino-Salerno link came down at Baronissi in the province of Salerno. Adnkronos places the bridge at the junction of the A2 and A30, numbered 11 and located at kilometre 6+350 in the municipality of Salerno. ANSA and Tgcom24 say a heavy truck carrying an excavator hit the overpass while heading north, and that the impact knocked fragments loose. Fanpage describes a mechanical vehicle with a long excavator arm, transported on a trailer, striking the bridge at kilometre 6.100 of the A2 Salerno-Reggio Calabria, and says a beam broke away and fell onto a moving car. Adnkronos calls the truck impact a first hypothesis, and Fanpage notes that the causes are still under investigation.

Damage and injuries

Adnkronos reports that a Smart car was damaged by the falling section, while ANSA says a single car was involved. Firefighters told ANSA that the occupants of the damaged vehicle were not seriously hurt. Adnkronos, ANSA and Tgcom24 report no injured people, whereas Fanpage reports that the driver was hurt. Anas, the FS group company that manages the road network, wrote that one injured person is recorded. The sources therefore disagree on whether anyone was hurt, and the injury count remains unconfirmed.

Traffic and response

The road was closed to traffic in both directions according to ANSA and Fanpage, and Adnkronos said traffic was completely jammed both ways. Police, firefighters, Anas auxiliaries and the 118 emergency service went to the site, according to Fanpage. ANSA reports that crews are carrying out rescue work, securing the area and checking the condition of the structure. Fanpage gave diversions: northbound drivers should continue on the A3 Napoli-Pompei-Salerno towards Naples, southbound drivers should use the A30 Caserta-Salerno and exit at Mercato San Severino, and drivers coming from Avellino should also take the A30 and exit at Mercato San Severino. Anas said the road would be restored as soon as possible, but no reopening time was given.