Overturned Semi Shuts Down George Bush Turnpike

The overpass from westbound President George Bush Turnpike to northbound Dallas North Tollway remains closed late Monday after a flatbed tractor-trailer carrying a horizontal directional drill wrecked earlier in the day.

Crews were working late into the night to repair damage to the overpass caused when the large machine fell onto the concrete retaining wall.

But the damage might have been much worse if it weren't for the brave work of a man who secured the heavy machinery and kept it from plunging off the highway.

The tow-truck driver who hung from a rope to remove the dangling drilling rig said he was "just getting the job done."

Tony Williams, who works for Jordan Towing in Plano and describes himself as a heavy equipment operator, rushed to the accident scene and quickly suited up in a safety harness.

"My first thought was, 'Man, if this wall breaks, that thing is gone,'" Williams said in an interview after his shift ended Monday night.

The $700,000, 40,000-pound drilling rig fell off the truck that was hauling it. Half of it hung off the side of the turnpike, stopped from falling only by the concrete wall.

NBC 5 showed Williams a video that his boss shot of him in action.

"They call it my Spider Man video," he joked.

The father of three hung from a safety rope, ignoring the 80-foot drop to the bridge below.

Asked if he had any fear, he said, "No, not at all. None whatsoever."

Williams and others quickly came up with a plan, deciding exactly where the cables needed to go.
The cables attached, the drilling rig was slowly pulled back upright.

Nobody was hurt.

The railing was damaged, but the highway itself had no permanent damage.

Asked if there's any job that is too tough, he said, "We haven't run across one yet."

Williams left his old job as a warehouse supervisor about 16 years ago and said he's never looked back.

He said he enjoys working 12-hour days in his jumbo-sized tow truck, which is built for the biggest jobs.

After successfully finishing the operation on Monday, Williams moved on to his next call, which no doubt was a lot more routine.

"Just getting the job done," he said.

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