Earlier this week, a semi truck struck an old cast-iron bridge, causing it to collapse into a creek in Paoli, Indiana.
The results of the police investigation are in, and they reveal some startling information.
According to a Facebook post by the Orange County Indiana Law Enforcement, the driver of the semi truck, 23-year-old Mary Lambright, had intentions to park the rig in the parking lot of a local Walmart, but missed her exit.
After several unsuccessful attempts to turn around she decided to continue down South Gospel Street. When she approached the 140-year-old bridge on South Gospel Street, she continued through the bridge despite the “no semis, weight limit of 6 tons” signage.
The weight of the semi caused the bridge to collapse into the creek below.
Lambright told officers that she drove over the bridge several times in her personal vehicle and was aware of the signage.
“When asked by Paoli Police why she continued through the bridge knowing the weight limit was only 6 tons she admitted to not knowing how many pounds that was” the Police report says.
“Ms. Lambright stated she wasn’t comfortable backing the semi up and made the decision to try to go through the bridge,” it continues.
Lambright and her 17-year-old cousin who was riding along with her, were able to exit the semi truck and were not injured. She received her CDL endorsement on May 12, 2015 and is currently employed for Louisville Logistics out of Louisville, Kentucky
She was cited for reckless operation of a tractor-trailer, disregarding a traffic control device, and overweight on a posted bridge.
