It’s not unusual for a truck to strike a bridge in the Kansas City area, but it is a bit unusual in Ottawa. Saturday, a National Guard truck, heading out on maneuvers with the rest of the National Guard Unit from Ottawa, struck the I-35 overpass on 15th street. The load handling system truck, hauling a trailer and sporting a container on top, struck the 14 foot bridge as it was heading to I-35. The impact crushing one side of the container and bending it dramatically to the drivers side.
Franklin County Sheriff Deputies and the Ottawa Police Department quickly closed the road from both sides and it was closed for just over two hours as officials from the National Guard decided how to move the truck. Finally, with help from a tow company, they were able to maneuver the truck so it would go under the bridge. It was then driven down I-35 to the 68 exit, at a very slow speed, with sheriff deputies in both lanes leading the way and Ottawa Police officers in both lanes following, preventing anyone from attempting to pass. From there, they traveled 68 into Ottawa, over the overpass bridge that was closed at both ends while the truck passed over it, to Eisenhower Road, which was also closed as law enforcement kept up the escort. Then finally down 17th street and back to the Armory.
No word on what the container was hauling. No injuries were reported, and K-Dot reports damage to the bridge as superficial. You can see pictures from the accident scene and a short video of the escort as it came down 17th street on KOFO’s facebook page.
