Trucker destroys historic bridge, cites ignorance of ton conversion weight

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Updated Jan 10, 2016
This truck crashed into and caused the partial collapse of a 135-year-old cast-iron bridge in Paoli, Ind. on Christmas Day. (Orange County Sheriff photo)This truck crashed into and caused the partial collapse of a 135-year-old cast-iron bridge in Paoli, Ind. on Christmas Day. (Orange County Sheriff photo)

An historic cast-iron bridge in Paoli, Ind. sustained heavy damage on Christmas Day when a tractor-trailer driver attempted to cross, despite the bridge’s 6-ton weight limit.

According to a Facebook post by Orange County Indiana Law Enforcement, 23-year-old Mary Lambright drove her 2015 Volvo and 53-foot van onto the bridge because she didn’t know how many pounds are in 6 tons.

Police said in the post Lambright stated she wasn’t comfortable backing the truck and decided to try to cross the bridge. The trailer got caught on the top of the bridge and immediately began ripping, and the weight of the truck, which was loaded with more than 21 tons of bottled water, caused the 135-year-old bridge to partially collapse.

Lambright and her 17-year-old cousin, who was riding in the truck with her, were able to get out unharmed. She was charged by police with reckless operation of a tractor-trailer, disregarding a traffic control device and overweight on a posted bridge.

Police said Lambright, from Fredericksburg, Ind., received her CDL in May 2015, and she works for Louisville Logistics out of Louisville, Ky.

A report from Louisville news station WDRB can be seen here.

On December 25, 2015, on or about 1200 hours, Mary Lambright, 23 year old female from Fredericksburg, Indiana was...

Posted by Orange County Indiana Law Enforcement on Saturday, December 26, 2015