Historic bridge with 6,000 pound weight limit smashed up by 15,000 pound box truck

An Illinois bridge that was recently named a historical landmark was badly damaged yesterday by a box truck driver who reportedly ignored a sign warning him that his vehicle was too heavy.

The incident happened just before 4 p.m. on June 27, 2018, in the city of Long Grove, Illinois, according to the Daily Herald.

Police say that a 30 year old Chicago-based truck driver was eastbound on Robert Parker Coffin Road when he plowed into the bridge without stopping. His truck struck the top of the Long Grove Covered Bridge. The impact tore the canopy from the bridge and left the structure leaning to one side.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office says that there was signage leading up to the bridge warning about the weight limit.

The truck driver was ticketed for disobeying a stop sign, disobeying a traffic control device, driving an overweight vehicle on the bridge, and failure to reduce his speed to avoid a crash.

Robert Parker Coffin Road is closed at the crash site in both directions until further notice.

Just two weeks ago, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places.