Box truck hit the concrete canopy structure. 25 injured.
ABC News said:
Iredell-Statesville Schools spokeswoman Susie Wiberg said the students were standing under the awning as a band competition was about to get started inside the school. Wiberg said a box truck hit one of the canopy supports and the awning then fell, hitting the students underneath it. A driveway leads up to the canopied entrance.
Another collection of precast concrete parts, poorly tied together. A truck like that should not bring down a substantial awning. A steel awning should bend but not break, and a concrete awning should punish the truck but remain standing.
Looking at the pictures in the link it looks like the truck took out one of the concrete arches. I don't think whether it's precast panels or steel deck it can withstand losing an interior support like that.
But, yes, precast does tend to lack the redundancy of steel deck.
Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH)
American Concrete Industries
If I'm looking at the right location on Google maps, it looks like a place where school buses would logically be driven through on occasion. But there doesn't seem to be any warning-bar thingy between it and the road.
From another article:
"Officials say the driver who hit the awning ignored the warning for trucks and at South Iredell there is a similar structure.
Superintendent Johnson says because of Saturday’s accident this awning has been inspected by an engineer as well.
'The structure is sound. It is slated to be replaced in a few years,' he said.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues.
A trooper with the North Carolina Highway Patrol is scheduled to meet with Iredell County district attorney to determine if charges will be filed against the driver in the case."
