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NewsFriday, August 17, 2007 8:28 AM CDT
Road closed after semi carrying cars hits train bridge
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BLOOMINGTON — The city closed a Division Street railroad underpass for inspection after it was hit by a semitrailer truck driver who thought he could fit beneath the bridge with three vehicles atop his trailer, police said.

The crash happened about 4 p.m. Thursday between Lee and Mason streets, and traffic barriers were later put up on Division at those streets.

The tracks were closed to train traffic immediately after the accident so they could be inspected, but their status was unclear later Thursday night, police said.

Amtrak service across that bridge was not affected Thursday evening, said Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole.

The first of the three vehicles atop the trailer cleared the bridge, police said. But the second, a Chevrolet Silverado, struck the bridge and pushed the third vehicle, a Dodge Intrepid, off the end of the trailer.

Further information wasn’t immediately available.

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Reader comments on this story - 13 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Pictures wrote on Aug 17, 2007 1:24 PM:

" where are the pictures? "

I'm terrified wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:59 AM:

" To drive a sedan under that bridge, let alone a semi! That is probably the worst underpass in town any driver with decent vision could tell that. "

FYI wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:31 AM:

" That guy shouldn't be driving anything at all. I often look up just for my van as I go under that low bridge. Only an idiot would think a semi could fit. "

wow wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:07 AM:

" Only an idiot would choose to go this route instead of detouring a few block to the Emerson bridge... "

Witness wrote on Aug 17, 2007 8:19 AM:

" I was behind the rig when this happened. Oh the humanity! "

to: not to mention wrote on Aug 17, 2007 7:45 AM:

" maybe he was a repo-man. "

OOOOPS wrote on Aug 17, 2007 7:28 AM:

" My guess is this was a truck hauling cars for a moving company. My family did that for a number of years. You will get loads with a wide variety of vehicles and have to go to many places that a normal car carrier would not go. Still no excuse. Sure wouldn't want to be the driver having to explain to the owner of the truck why it is now a convertible. "

Master of the Obvious wrote on Aug 17, 2007 6:02 AM:

" Other than a few chips in the concrete structure, I doubt the underpass has much damage. The RR tracks going over are laid upon a several foot thick bed of dirt, cinders, and ballast. It would take a much larger force than a semi to throw them out of alignment. Bet that eeeevil SUV on top of the semi trailer is junk now tho. "

WHY wrote on Aug 17, 2007 5:50 AM:

" WHY was I not there to see this in person !!! ARGGH!! I miss everything cool that happens in our town! "

Just A Guy wrote on Aug 17, 2007 3:54 AM:

" He might have been leaving Bairds that is just down Division from that underpass. "

Rookie Drivers Everywhere wrote on Aug 17, 2007 2:15 AM:

" I quit driving big trucks when on board computers starting coming out. It took the fun out of driving and nosey dispatchers could track your every move. Today half the drivers on the road are driving school graduates who couldn't drive a thirsty cow to a creek. The days of the professional, courteous, helpful truckers are over. It used to be a truck driver stood for something, not any more. Many of the real truckers the ones who you could rely on for help if you were broke down on the side of the road, or for accurate directions; are gone by the wayside. I can guarantee you this, the driver of this vehicle was certainly no truck driver. First of all he was not even on a Class II roadway. Second of all any driver worth his salt would not attempt an overpass that did not have the height indicated on the bridge. This is just another case of a driver with no business on the road. "

not to mention wrote on Aug 17, 2007 12:47 AM:

" that any experienced car hauler knows that with trucks they sit up high and will not fit. I'm trying to figure out what the driver was doing over there anyway, ther are no car dealers in that area and Mitsubishi is out of the way. "

well duh, wrote on Aug 17, 2007 12:17 AM:

" anyone who knows that area can tell you a large suv just clears it. "

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