Historic Bridge Damaged After Large Truck Plows Into It

LONG GROVE, IL – Just weeks after a Long Grove covered bridge was made a historic landmark, a truck driver plowed into it Wednesday afternoon, damaging the bridge and forcing local officials to close Robert Parker Coffin Road in both directions in the area of the bridge, authorities told the Daily Herald. The collision occurred at 3:54 p.m. on Wednesday when an eastbound truck struck the top the bridge. The 30-year-old truck driver has been cited for as been cited for disobeying a stop sign, disobeying a traffic control device, failure to reduce his speed to avoid a crash and driving an overweight vehicle on the bridge.

Lake County Sheriff Sgt. Christopher Covelli told the Daily Herald the truck driver failed to obey a sign leading up to the bridge, which notes that trucks over 6,000 pounds are not allowed to cross. The truck weighed 15,000 pounds.

Just two weeks ago, the historic bridge was placed on the National Historic Register. Long Grove had planned a celebration for July 12 to commemorate the addition of the bridge to the National Register. It's unclear at this point when the bridge will be fixed and if the event will still take place.

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