Excavator Strikes Bridge with Such Force That the Arm Breaks Through the Roadway Above
Osage County Sheriff's Office via Facebook
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Excavators on the move occasionally end up colliding with bridges. It's an age-old story. Earlier this year, we shared a similar incident, but the event that took place on Wednesday in Osage County, Kansas, stands out due to one particular detail: The excavator's arm broke through the bridge deck.
I’m not claiming it’s the first occurrence of this nature, but I've never witnessed it myself. How fast was the large truck traveling for the equipment to penetrate that deeply? How powerful is the excavator's arm? How sturdy is the bridge?
The unfortunate Caterpillar 323 didn’t have a chance. Naturally, this specific model of excavator weighs at least 55,000 pounds, which contributed significantly to its momentum. According to local news outlet KVOE, the driver was taken to a nearby hospital in Topeka for minor injuries, and it's surprising he didn't get thrown out through the windshield.
The South Morrill Road Bridge on U.S. Highway 75 will be closed for an indefinite period due to the collision. Rome wasn't constructed in a day, and this bridge won’t be repaired quickly either. I doubt this route, located about 10 miles west of Melvern, Kansas, sees heavy traffic compared to busier highways elsewhere in the country, but with one lane reduced in the area of the accident, there will be delays for drivers.
Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in this incident.
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VW’s 2025 ID.Cross concept is transitioning into a production electric vehicle.
This electric version of the subcompact T-Cross introduces a new design language for VW.
The concept features a front-mounted motor with 208 hp and a range of 261 miles.
Volkswagen’s smallest electric SUV has emerged from the concept phase and is now on public roads. Our spy photographers captured the first images of the ID.Cross prototype, providing an initial glimpse of the subcompact EV that was showcased at the Munich Auto Show last September.
Although still clad in camouflage, the production model bears a striking resemblance to the original concept.
The proportions appear nearly identical; the ID.Cross has short overhangs, a rounded front, and a slightly tapered rear that reflects the concept’s “urban-friendly” design.
The final version is expected to align closely with the concept’s dimensions, which were optimized to maximize interior space within a compact size: about 4,160 mm (163.8 inches) in length, making it shorter than the Taos in the U.S. and squarely within the subcompact EV segment.
Even while camouflaged, the outlines of the headlights and taillights appear reminiscent of those from the Munich exhibit, hinting at VW’s latest light-bar design. Although not visible, it’s likely that the three illuminated rectangles integrated into the concept’s black C-pillar have made their way to the production model as well.
The concept's quirky interior, designed to resemble a yoga studio on wheels, won't be carried over in its entirety, so don’t expect pastel lighting or Zen-garden textures in the standard version.
However, VW's newest compact cabin layout, featuring a larger infotainment screen and enhanced physical controls, should be included.
What powers it?
The ID.Cross is based on the latest iteration of the MEB platform, which has been optimized for this new front-wheel-drive generation of small electric vehicles, including the ID.Polo.
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Will the U.S. get it?
Sales in the U.S. have not yet been confirmed; however, in Europe, the ID.Cross is expected to start around £25,000/€28,000 ($32,000) when it competes against other electric crossovers like the Kia EV2, Toyota Urban Cruiser, and its VW Group counterparts, the Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval.
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Excavator Strikes Bridge with Such Force That the Arm Breaks Through the Roadway Above
"Measure twice," as a sage once stated.