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The City of Saskatoon says a semi driver has been ordered to pay $11,200 after pleading guilty to damaging city infrastructure.
The charge related to a crash on March 5, when a semi hauling a large excavator on a flatbed on Highway 11 collided with an overpass on Circle Drive at the intersection with Highway 16.
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“The impact sheared off the top part of the excavator and caused significant damage to the outer edge of the overhead structure,” the City of Saskatoon said in a statement.
The driver entered a guilty plea in bylaw court on Wednesday, the city added, and will pay a fine of $8,000, along with a victim surcharge of $3,200. The court granted him 18 months to pay.
“A Traffic Bylaw charge against Regina-based Bowline Logistics, the corporation which owns the vehicle, is adjourned for plea until July 8,” the City of Saskatoon added.
“The City has subsequently submitted a claim to Bowline’s and the driver’s insurer and is awaiting a reply to recover the overpass repair costs.”
The crash was one of four overpass collisions in the city involving heavy equipment during the month of March.
On March 6, the day after the collision, Dan Willems, the City of Saskatoon’s director of technical services, spoke candidly about his frustration with the driver involved in the crash.
“Signage apparently didn’t help this blockhead realize he was going to cause significant damage and he didn’t have a permit,” Willems told reporters at City Hall in Saskatoon.
The city said engineers estimated damage to the Highway 16 overpass at $400,000.
