Truck driver appeals jail sentence for 'breaking bridge'

A truck driver has appealed to a court to overturn a judge's decision that has found him guilty of causing a bridge in Beijing to collapse - and consequently sentenced him to four years in jail while asking him for 15.56 million yuan ($2.54 million) in damages, Beijing-based Legal Mirror reported Tuesday.

In court, Zhang Wenjun, from Hebei Province, argued that his heavy truck, which was 110 tons above the limit permitted on the bridge the day of the accident, had not been responsible for the collapse of Baihe Bridge in Beijing's Huairou district in 2011.

Zhang said that several other overloaded trucks had crossed the bridge before his very own eyes that day - just moments ahead of him.

Zhang, who was miraculously unharmed in the incident, added that the jail sentence was far too severe and told the court that he would never be able to pay off such a hefty fine.

Net users suspected that the bridge had been poorly maintained, which may have been a factor in the accident, but the district's road authorities said that it was in good condition before the collapse.