World's toughest security barrier stops a 15,000 lbs truck

The U.S. State Department is developing a steel barrier that can immediately stop a speeding 15,000-pound truck. The government agency is developing the structure with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute at the university in College Station who released a video of a test run that shows the truck getting completely totaled after colliding with the barrier at 50 mph. Dean Alberson, a research engineer at the institute, told the Daily News the project is being developed to protect international U.S. embassy bases. The anti-ram vehicle barrier, which is being referred to simply as "bent pipe" until the department provides an official name, is 24 feet long, has a diameter of 12 inches, and will stand 42 inches high from the ground, he said. The solid steel pipe is placed 18 inches deep into concrete, he said. The structure was only slightly displaced from the massive collision but the truck which had been used to deliver Blue Bunny ice cream was totaled, he said. The institute uses a cable pulley system to maneuver the vehicle and he added safety to the driver is not a priority.