KENT Fire and Rescue deployed the WASP as a bridge collapsed across the M20.
The pedestrian bridge was partially destroyed after a collision with a lorry carrying a digger on the Eastbound carriageway.
Half of the bridge collapsed onto the motorway on the busiest weekend of the year – leaving the other half unstable but still standing.
Kent Fire, who only received their WASP monitoring device a few days earlier, immediately deployed the Warning Alarm for Stability Protection.
Utilising the Multi-Purpose Plate and ratchet strap Kent Fire fighters used the WASP as an early warning to further potential movement.
Pedestrian Bridge
A spokeswoman for Kent Police said: “It is believed a lorry collided with a pedestrian bridge which has collapsed onto the carriageway below.
“No people are believed to be trapped in the debris, however one person is believed to have suffered injuries, not reported to be life-threatening at this time.”
Incredibly only one person was injured as a motorcyclist took evasive action on a weekend where an estimated 13 million drivers were expected to use that stretch of motorway.
Major Incident
WASP co-founder Rory O’Rourke, CEO of DATUM Monitoring, said: “This was a rapidly developing emergency. The bridge collapse was declared a major incident and WASPs were deployed.
“As we understand it there was concern as to the structural stability of the remaining pier of the bridge and the WASP enabled the rescue workers to carry out their work safely.
“It was amazing given how busy the motorway must have been that there was no serious injury.”
Kent Police declared the bridge collapse a major incident and the motorway was immediately closed.
The incident occurred near the junction with the M26, which links the M25 London orbital with the M20. It is the main route to the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover for people travelling to France and across Europe.
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