Semi driver handed hefty fine for damaging Saskatoon overpass, city says

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.

City solicitor Cindy Yelland said Saskatoon amended its traffic bylaw last August to create the offense for damaging city infrastructure, noting this is the largest fine handed down since the change.

Yelland said seeking compensation from the trucking company will be a long process, adding that the city has not been reimbursed for any repair costs yet.

The solicitor said she hopes the significant fine handed down in this case will serve as a deterrent to other drivers and trucking companies. She also reminded drivers to check their loads before hitting the road.

“These are preventable incidents, and it is the responsibility of drivers and their trucking companies to responsibly transport any goods they are carrying,” she said.

“It is truly the city’s wish simply that these overpass hits stop.”

—with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk and Lara Fominoff