Once upon a time, Maine could claim that more than 120 covered bridges dotted its landscape. Last week, the headcount was eight. Now, there are seven and a half. That’s because, despite posted signs, the driver of an
overweight vehicle decided to cross one. He didn’t make it. Not even halfway. Instead, the
bridge bottomed out, sending the driver, truck, and cargo plummeting into the water below.
Babb’s Bridge in Gorham, Maine, has the oldest history of the state’s
remaining covered bridges, one that dates back to 1840. The wooden bridge also has a
weight limit of three tons. The driver behind the wheel of a
Ford F-750 thought he could make it, but alas—those trucks can be over 9,000 pounds empty, and depending on what was in the bed, GVWR can be between 26,000 and 37,000 pounds.
Oh, and the driver was also hauling crushed gravel, according to the
Gorham Police Department. Even if the vehicle were an older F-Series with zero cargo, its weight would’ve still exceeded what the little old bridge could handle. The ability to read doesn’t necessarily mean you understand the words. At least, that’s my guess when the driver didn’t change his route
