The
Tasman Bridge disaster occurred on the evening of 5 January 1975, in
Hobart, the capital city of
Australia's island state of
Tasmania, when a bulk ore carrier travelling up the
Derwent River collided with several pylons of the
Tasman Bridge, causing a large section of the bridge deck to collapse onto the ship and into the river below. Twelve people were killed, including seven crew on board the ship, and the five occupants of four cars which fell 45 m (150 feet) after driving off the bridge. The disaster severed the main link between Hobart and its eastern suburbs, and is notable for the social impacts that resulted from the loss of such an important road artery.