A worker inspects the underside of a concrete mixer after it tipped over on Marine Drive Wednesday afternoon. The incident closed the road to traffic between the 4000-block and 31st Avenue.
Photograph by: Paul McGrath photo , for North Shore News
An overturned concrete mixer forced the closure of a large portion of Marine Drive Wednesday afternoon, causing traffic backups across West Vancouver.
The fully laden vehicle was backing into a residential construction site in the 3800-block of Marine around 12:30 p.m. when a retaining wall gave way, causing the vehicle to toppled over, according to police. The mishap forced emergency crews to shut down the eastbound lane of Marine Drive at 31st Street and the westbound lane in the 4000-block to allow for cleanup. Buses and other traffic were rerouted while crews dealt with the mess.
The driver was unhurt but shaken up, according to police. He was taken to hospital as a precaution, they said. A towing specialist equipped with a crane was brought in from Burnaby to right the vehicle. The closure lasted several hours.
WorkSafe B.C. has sent investigators to determine what happened.
Neighbour Michael Moody, describing the incident to the North Shore News, said it had been an accident waiting to happen, due to the number of industrial vehicles that have been frequenting that part of Marine Drive.
The area has seen a “construction boom,” he said.
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