Court Rules Washington DOT Can't Be Held Liable for Skagit Bridge Collapse
A Skagit County, Washington, Superior Court judge ruled Dec. 15 that the state Department of Transportation cannot be charged or held responsible for the Skagit River Bridge collapse in 2013.
The judge’s ruling was the latest step in litigation over the collapse of what is now named the Trooper Sean M. O’Connell Jr. Memorial Bridge.
In December 2015, a judge combined two civil claims brought against the company that operated the semi-truck that struck several overhead trusses on May 23, 2013 into one lawsuit.
The state Attorney General’s Office contends the bridge strike caused the bridge’s northbound span to crash into the river.
The single suit includes filings from 12 parties, including the truck’s driver, a pilot vehicle operator and the three motorists who fell into the river when the bridge collapsed beneath them.
No one died in the collapse, but the severing of a major regional transportation route disrupted travel and business for months.
The trucking company asked the court to reconsider their decision that the Department of Transportation is not liable for the incident. Their request was denied.
A trial is set for June.
