Jasper bridge damaged by distracted truck driver

ByFree Press Staff Reading Time: 1 minute
Photo courtesy of the Jasper Police Department.
Photo courtesy of the Jasper Police Department.

A box truck damaged Jasper’s 3rd Avenue bridge when the driver swerved to avoid striking a car Thursday afternoon.

According to authorities, Christopher B. Bowe, 52, of Lakeview Drive, Floyd Knobs, was northbound on 3rd Avenue in a 2005 Hino box truck at when traffic stopped in front of him. Traffic was forced to stop as a van required to stop for railroad crossings stopped at the railroad just north of the bridge.

Bowe said he realized he couldn’t stop in time so he swerved to the right to avoid the vehicles ahead of his truck. This caused the truck to jump the curb on the bridge and strike the concrete pier and steel railing. One of the piers was sheared off and fell to the ground below the bridge.

The impact pushed the truck’s axle into its fuel tank area.

Bowe was treated at the scene for a laceration on his left elbow.

Police estimated damages to the truck to be about $20,000.

 

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