A crane was used to dismantle a precarious portion of the Santa Monica bluffs on Wednesday morning, preventing potential collapse onto the freeway below. The operation, captured on camera, saw a clamshell-style crane take seconds to breakdown the majority of the hazardous formation.
Approximately 12 dump trucks were deployed to clear the debris on the northbound side of Pacific Coast Highway, which was expected to remain closed until around noon.
The issue was brought to light by passersby, including Suzzane Yankovic, wife of “Weird Al” Yankovic, who noticed a crack in the formation and shared it on social media. Sean James, a friend of the Yankovics, then alerted city officials to the potential peril of the bluff collapsing onto cars or people below.
The city swiftly decided to intervene and tear down the compromised section of the bluff. Officials believe the split was caused by erosion resulting from heavy rains in December and January.
As personal injury bloggers, we often discuss the impact of unforeseen dangers on public safety. This incident underscores the importance of vigilance and swift action in mitigating potential risks – in this case, averting what could have been a disaster.