Horror unfolded after a man decided to drive a 36,000-pound dump truck filled with gravel across a Civil War-era covered wooden bridge.
The 19th-century Babb’s Bridge in Gorham collapsed Friday around 12:45 p.m. when a Ford F-750 dump truck, loaded with crushed gravel, attempted to cross the fragile structure.
Driver Joshua Polewarzyk, 37, of Limington, attempted to cross the 183-year-old bridge when the wooden deck gave way, causing the vehicle to fall into the river.
The truck, which weighed approximately 36,000 pounds, was nearly 30,000 pounds over the bridge’s permitted capacity of 6,000 pounds.
Maine Department of Transportation spokesman Paul Merrill called the incident “unprecedented” and said it was “the first time” he had seen anything like it.
The 19th-century Babb’s Bridge in Gorham collapsed Friday around 12:45 p.m. when a Ford F-750 dump truck, loaded with crushed gravel, attempted to cross the fragile structure.
The driver, Joshua Polewarzyk, 37, of Limington, attempted to cross the 183-year-old bridge when its wooden deck gave way, causing the vehicle to plunge into the river.
The truck overturned and became partially submerged. Fortunately, Polewarzyk managed to escape with only minor injuries.
“The people I work with, who have been on the scene for decades, don’t know of any instances like this that have occurred on any bridge in the Maine Department of Transportation’s bridge inventory. I think this is the first time,” Merrill told Maine News Center.
In a news release, Gorham police said “the excessive weight of the vehicle caused the wooden deck of the bridge structure to give way.”
The truck overturned, leaving its upper part partially submerged.
Fortunately, Polewarzyk managed to escape with only minor injuries.
‘The operator was able to extricate himself from the truck and suffered only minor injuries,’ the news release said.
The truck, which weighed approximately 36,000 pounds, was nearly 30,000 pounds over the bridge’s 6,000-pound rated capacity.
The bridge, which spans the Presumpscot River between Gorham and Windham, was originally built in 1840 and rebuilt in 1976 after a fire. It is made of pine wood.
It will remain closed for several months while officials assess the damage and plan repairs.
MaineDOT reports the structure was last inspected in late July, just weeks before the accident.
“There’s a two- or three-mile detour, which generally speaking isn’t too long. But we know it’s going to be an inconvenience and it will be for most of the rest of the year,” Merrill added.
The bridge, which spans the Presumpscot River between Gorham and Windham, was originally built in 1840 and rebuilt in 1976 after a fire. It is made of wood.
“It was Maine’s oldest covered bridge until it was burned by vandals in 1973,” the press release reads. “Maine Department of Transportation crews rebuilt an exact replica of the bridge using lumber milled in Gorham and historically authentic construction techniques.”
‘The replacement bridge opened in 1976. The bridge is made of wood and the abutments on either side of the river are made of stone.’
It will remain closed for several months while officials assess the damage and plan repairs.
“Due to a motor vehicle accident, the Hurricane Road Covered Bridge in Gorham will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. Please find a safe alternate route,” the Gorham Police Department announced on Facebook.
The Maine Department of Transportation reports that the structure had last been inspected in late July, just weeks before the accident. The bridge is inspected at least every two years and the bridge’s weight limit was first stated at three tons in 1983 and has remained the same ever since.
“This is a very serious example of what could happen… when a bridge is almost 50 years old and is as unique as this one, and you have a vehicle that appears to be terribly overloaded, something like this happens,” Merrill said.
Many people began to criticize the driver while others defended him simply for having made a mistake.
“Wow, all these negative posts, you guys should be ashamed. This person is very good, people make mistakes. When will we learn to stop protesting mistakes?” commented one Facebook user.
“Hope everyone involved is okay,” wrote another.
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