On January 28, 2022 at 6:39 a.m. EST, the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed. Nearby residents reported hearing a loud boom and a whooshing noise around 6:35–6:40 a.m. Many credited the early morning time of collapse for the lack of fatalities, as the bridge was a route for many school buses, PAT buses, and commuters to work. The bridge was covered with a blanket of snow from an overnight storm that had passed through the area.

 

Five vehicles were on the bridge when it collapsed, including a Port Authority articulated bus, 3309. At least 10 people were injured; three were taken to hospitals by ambulances. None of the injuries appeared to be life threatening. Some first responders rappelled about 150 ft into the ravine, while others formed a human chain to rescue victims. According to a law enforcement official, a passing jogger helped to rescue some of the motorists. The count of ten injured included some first responders who slipped and fell during the rescue operation. The initial rescue effort was completed by 8:30 a.m. EST while emergency personnel continued to check under the wreckage for any trapped victims, thankfully none were found. A crane erected at Forbes and Briarcliff was used to retrieve the wrecked vehicles, and the 3309 was lifted from the site on January 31.

 

Before that could happen though, Pittsburgh HazMat developed an innovative plan to pump approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel from the bus to prepare it for the lift. Personnel lashed ladders together to gain access and used belay lines for safety. The angled bus added an extra challenge in offloading the fuel, which was transferred into barrels suspended by a crane.

Allegheny Crane & Rigging built the massive crane with precise specifications for the complex lift and personnel from Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pittsburgh Emergency Management & Homeland Security secured the area and provided support in the event of an emergency.

 

The bus, Port Authority fleet number 3309, was operating route 61B outbound from downtown Pittsburgh, and had nearly reached the east end before the bridge began to collapse. Driver Daryl Luciani later reported "the bus was bouncing and shaking" during the event. After the collapse, first responders placed a ladder by the bus door, which Luciani and the two passengers aboard used to descend to the floor of the valley before walking up to Forbes.

 

Thankfully, all injuries are non life threatening, and no lives were lost... Now lets look at the bus recovery!

 

The bus sitting on the bridge... Right where it landed... As you can see, the crane company is preparing it for its ride to the sky.

 

More of the rigging...

 

Rigging in the back is done.

 

Pulling her from the Abyss...

 

I'm going to just insert a few pictures here in a row. they are kinda self explanitory...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, she was placed back on solid ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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At the time I typed this it was unclear whether 3309 would be repaired and placed back in service. Unfortunately, from what I hav heard, it likely she has made her last trip...

 

I have a couple videos, the first one is 3309 being lifted out, at a much higher speed than it actually happened, and the second one is 3309, after all it went through, back up under her own power to get hooked to a wrecker.

Enjoy...