Trucker takes 43 ton truck over 14 ton bridge, with expected results

North Dakota police say that a semi truck driver is to blame for collapsing an historic bridge in Grand Forks yesterday.

The incident happened just after 1 p.m. on Monday, July 22, in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Here’s how the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department described the incident in a news release:

On 07/22/2019, at approximately 1:15pm, Michael Dodds was driving a 2005 Peterbilt truck tractor pulling a trailer loaded with dry beans west on 3rd Avenue NE, southwest of Northwood, ND. Approximately 1.5 miles southwest of Northwood, the truck travelled over a 56’ long restricted-weight bridge over the Goose River. The bridge collapsed, and the trailer became hung up on the west abutment.

The bridge was rated for 14 ton gross weight with restrictions marked. It was built in 1906 and listed on the National Registrar of Historic places. Dodds’ weight was just over 43 ton, or 86,750 pounds. An overload citation of $11,400.00 was issued. Dodds was uninjured. Due to the bridge being out, 3rd Avenue NE is closed between 36th Street NE and 37th Street NE. The estimated replacement cost of the bridge is between $800,000.00 and $1,000,000.00. The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, The Grand Forks County Highway Department and Interstate Towing. The incident remains under investigation.

The truck’s owner, Shane Olson, chimed in on Facebook to question the accuracy of the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office report: