The tractor driver said he didn’t know that the attachment he was towing was wider than the bridge. And so the bridge on Holliday Road, near Zionsville in Boone County, Indiana, met its end.
Boone County Sheriff’s Office photo
Boone County Sheriff’s Office photo
It’s a crying shame, because in 2009 this bridge completed a lovely restoration. I told what I know about it here.
There just aren’t many truss bridges left in and near Indianapolis. I visited this one many times since its restoration. It was a lovely, quiet place to stop.
This bridge looks to me to be damaged beyond repair. But then, so did the 1880 bridge in Paoli that was destroyed by a semi two years ago (story here) — and it reopened this summer. So maybe there’s hope for the bridge on Holliday Road.
Wow, I had not heard this. The fate of the bridge probably depends on how much insurance is available from the guy who damaged it.
It just happened Saturday. I had to do some fast blogging yesterday after the news broke to get this up today!
That is so sad it was a beautiful bridge. Hopefully it can be restored.
Here’s hoping. But man, it’s so bent and twisted.
Ignorance wins out yet again!
Yeah, I don’t understand how you don’t stop to think that your big, wide vehicle might be a problem for a small bridge.
I’m sure they should cite him and fine him, isn’t there a “dumbaxx-hill-jack” law in Indiana? There should be. I see this kind of “not-smart-enough-for-modern-life” stuff a lot, both here and in Northern Wisconsin! Lots of too high trucks tryin gto drive under too low bridges there…
The preservationist in me wants to see all but car traffic banned on all truss bridges. But the ones that exist out in the country do have a legitimate call to carry farm equipment. That equipment has gotten larger and heavier in the last 30 years. This does not obviate operators from knowing when their equipment is too tall or wide for the bridge they’re approaching but it does bring up the question whether old bridges like this should be left in place for pedestrian use only, with a new modern bridge built alongside, so hurr durr durr moments like this one don’t keep happening.
Something like that would ruin your day.
To put it mildly.
Wow! That is crazy stupid. To do that much damage he must have just kept on going and force his way through; that or he was doing a heck of a speed.
I’ve never driven a tractor like this so I have a lot of ignorance about what it’s like. But I can’t imagine how you don’t stop to think, “Hey, wow, I’m pretty wide here. That bridge is pretty narrow.” I also don’t know how you don’t realize when you’ve struck something.
Isn’t it heartbreaking how a moment’s carelessness can destroy something that has stood for generations? I’ll look forward to any updates you can offer — and will keep my fingers crossed that the poor old bridge can be salvaged.
I’m feeling pessimistic about this bridge’s prospects. But they managed to restore the bridge in Paoli so here’s hoping my pessimism is unwarranted.
Jeez..?..it’s a beautiful piece of engineering history…holding historic value and it needs to be restored to its former glory….. just why didn’t the driver notice….. see it so many times in the UK…. big truck/tractor and small bridges…. sadly it won’t be the last.. Rgds Lynd
Here’s hoping it can be restored. That’s one mighty twisted bridge.
Huh. I wonder if it’s the season or something, as we had a truss bridge get damaged here as well (https://goo.gl/SZ8VXd). Yours does look like it may be totaled, while ours should be repaired within 60 days. Sucks for both.
It’s been a “thing” for a little while now, as trucks and farm equipment have become heavier and larger. I don’t know what runs through these drivers’ minds as they try to cross these bridges.
It seems like they’re on autopilot or distracted by other things (texting maybe?). Sigh…
Oh good Lord! :(
yeah. cries