Fire Department Frees Box Truck Wedged Under Train Bridge In South Norwalk

Update 11 p.m.: NORWALK, Conn. -- The Norwalk Fire Department used an Oxi-gasoline petrogen torch and a diamond-tip rotary saw to remove a bright-yellow DHL delivery box truck that became wedged under the Washington Street train bridge Friday afternoon, officials said.

Norwalk firefighters inspect the DHL box truck stuck under a train bridge at Washington Street on Friday afternoon.
Photo Credit: *Norwalk Fire Department*

A Norwalk firefighter cuts away at a box truck stuck under the Washington Street train bridge on Friday in South Norwalk.
Photo Credit: *Norwalk Fire Department*

Norwalk firefighters work to cut away the DHL box truck that was stuck under a train bridge at Washington Street on Friday afternoon.
Photo Credit: *Norwalk Fire Department*

A bright yellow DHL box truck was too tall to go underneath the train bridge at Washington Street in Norwalk. The sign on the left gives the clearance.
Photo Credit: *Norwalk Fire Department*

A truck is wedged under the train bridge at Washington Street and South Main Street in South Norwalk on Friday afternoon.
Photo Credit: *Contributed by Steve Rauscher*

The intersection remained closed at 4:30 p.m., about two hours after the accident occurred. Norwalk on Friday afternoon.
Photo Credit: *Contributed by Steve Rauscher*

Metro-North trains were not affected by the accident.
Photo Credit: *Contributed by Steve Rauscher*

by The Daily Voice

11/01/2013 11:00 p.m.

The truck, which was 13 feet, 6 inches tall, became wedged under the 11-foot-2 bridge at 2:24 p.m., said Deputy Fire Chief Edward Prescott.

The Norwalk Fire Department was called to assist with the removal at 3:30 p.m. after Metro-North bridge inspectors decided that pulling the truck out the conventional way might have caused structural damage to the bridge, Prescott said.

The truck's steel framing around its rear roll-up door was severely wedged under the bridge's supporting members, he said.

Firefighters worked from an aerial platform truck to cut the steel framing of the truck. Once the framing was cut, Nat’s Towing was able to free the wedged truck without stressing the bridges structure, Prescott said.

Norwalk police blocked the intersection at South Main and Washington streets until 5 p.m. while crews worked to free the truck and inspect the bridge. Metro-North police were also on the scene investigating the accident.

The scene is just up the street from the South Norwalk train station, near the police station, the Maritime Aquarium and the historic SoNo entertainment and dining district.

Original story: NORWALK, Conn. -- Members of the Norwalk Fire Department were using saws to cut out a truck that was wedged under the train bridge at Washington Street and South Main Street on Friday afternoon, witnesses said.

The intersection remained closed at 4:30 p.m., about two hours after the accident occurred.

It was not known how long it would take to remove the truck from the intersection near the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and the popular SoNo area.

Metro-North trains were not affected by the accident.

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