Driver Falls 200-ft to Death on Bay Bridge, Safety Changes Planned

An independent owner-operator plunged to his death Monday when his load apparently shifted on the recently-opened San Francisco Bay Bridge S-curve.

The San Francisco medical examiner identified Tahir Sheikh Fakhar, 56, of Hayward, as the driver whose truck jumped the 3-foot railing early Monday and fell 200 feet from the westbound upper deck of the bridge.

Fakhar was driving about 50 mph, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Trent Cross said, 10 mph above the posted speed limit for that section of the bridge is 40 mph. This could have caused his load of pears to shift on the curve, said investigators.

The adjustment to the new speed limit has caused problems prior to Fakhar’s death, with an increased number of complaints and accidents spurring Caltrans and CHP to plan new signage and warning lights, to slow speeding drivers as they approach the curve. The remainder of the bridge has a 50 mph limit.

Since its opening Sept. 8, the area of the curve has been the site of at least 43 accidents, though CHP said the primary factors of Monday’s crash were the driver’s speed and cargo-shift, rather than any design flaws with the S-curve.

“There’s nothing tricky or complicated about the curve,” Cross said, adding he was confident that those driving the proper speed limit would “make it through the curve safely, just as thousands of drivers do every day.

Within hours of the crash, Caltrans had posted electronic message boards recommending truck speeds of 35 mph, though the limit legally remains 40 mph, and permanent overhead electronic signs are in the works. Crews were scheduled to begin Tuesday with marking the barriers with 6-inch reflective strips on both decks, said Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney.

Fakhar had been a subcontractor for Oakland-based JM&R Trucking for eight months, and had purchased his truck several months ago, said authorities.

“He was a good person, a prompt person, always on time,” company owner Mike Russell said. “He was a safe driver, absolutely.”

Sources:

San Francisco Chronical, SFGate.com: Changes coming to Bay Bridge after death plunge. Henry K. Lee, Michael Cabanatuan, Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writers.

San Francisco Chronical, SFGate.com: Truck driver in death plunge is identified. Jaxon Van Derbeken.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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