The driver of an overloaded truck that caused a bridge to collapse was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay compensation of 15.56 million yuan ($2.44 million), the Beijing News has reported.

At about midnight on July 19, 2011, a 230-meter bridge, said to be one the longest rigid frame bridges in Beijing, collapsed when a truck carrying more than 140 tons of sand drove onto it.

One month after going on trial in Huairou District People's Court on June 26 this year, the truck driver, identified by the authorities only as Zhang, was convicted of traffic offences, sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay compensation for economic losses totaling 15.56 million yuan. The owner of the truck, surnamed Cao, and his son shall assume associated liabilities for the compensation.

The court said Zhang's case caused severe harm to state and public interests but took into account Zhang's voluntary confession in court when sentencing.

"I knew overloading is illegal, but I was forced by the boss to do it," said Zhang.

The court ruled that Zhang's two bosses will also be responsible for paying the compensation for causing great economic losses to Huairou Branch of the Road Administration of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.

"The compensation was reasonable from a legal point of view," Yao Zhiming, the lawyer of Yinke Law Office in Beijing, was quoted as saying by the Beijing News.

However, collecting the compensation may prove difficult because all three men said they cannot afford to pay, Yao said.

"On the enforcement level, the court may collect whenever the defendants are found in possession of executable properties," Yao said.