Huge Steel Beams Fall Off Truck, Injure Driver on DC Highway

One person is hurt after two enormous steel beams fell off a truck and onto a highway in Northeast D.C., officials say.

The metal girders slammed onto northbound I-295 prior to the Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue exit on Monday afternoon, the fire department said. Photos show one beam spanning several lanes of traffic; the other was propped up almost vertically.

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Collapse incident I-295 N/B prior to Burroughs Ave NE. This does not involve a bridge, but apparently a dropped load of girder type metal from a truck that left scene. 1 vehicle was partially struck. 1 occupant non life threatening injury. pic.twitter.com/F9DMxx9fBr
— DC Fire and EMS Department (@dcfireems) March 8, 2021

Update incident N/B I-295 prior to Burroughs Ave NE. #DCsBravest have transported 1 patient non life threatening injury from a vehicle partially struck. We will monitor scene pending arrival of resources capable of removing these 2 large metal girder type items. pic.twitter.com/6T20tSI6LN
— DC Fire and EMS Department (@dcfireems) March 8, 2021

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The driver of a minivan hit one of the girders. A photo appears to show that their airbag deployed. The driver was taken to a hospital with an injury that was not believed to be life-threatening.

The driver of the truck that dropped the beams fled, the fire department said. They received a report that the truck struck a nearby bridge. That bridge was not damaged, a fire department spokesman said.

All lanes of I-295 northbound were closed as crews awaited vehicles that could remove the beams. Cleanup was complete by about 5:30 p.m. and all lanes were gradually reopening to traffic.