Salina, N.Y — A truck hit the railroad bridge on Onondaga Lake Parkway so hard this morning that the top of the truck was ripped off.
The collision was reported at 9:58 a.m., according to the Onondaga County 911 Center.
The driver, Jorge Garcia, 35, of North Syracuse, was driving a truck full of office supplies to Fayetteville, when he drove the truck into the bridge, said Tom Newton, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.
The top was peeled away and it appeared cargo spilled out the back of the truck. Some debris was under the bridge. The bright stripe that runs along the bottom of the bridge had some damage to it.
There were no injuries and other than small damage to the stripe on the bridge there was no damage to the bridge, Newton said. CSX is inspecting the bridge, Newton said.
Garcia will receive at least six tickets, Newton said.
The bridge has a clearance of 10 feet 9 inches. The typical height of a tractor-trailer hauling a trailer is 13.5 feet. There are numerous signs warning drivers of the low bridge.
The bridge is often hit by truck drivers who ignore the warning signs.
On Aug. 29, the state Department of Transportation reduced traffic to one lane in each direction along a 1,200-foot stretch on either side of the CSX railroad bridge.
The lane reductions are aimed at slowing and giving tall vehicles time to read the signs and avoid that bridge
The DOT has said the lane reductions will continue indefinitely. The DOT also has put up signs warning of the low railroad bridge and posted notifications on the roadway as you drive along.
Onondaga Lake Parkway cut to two lanes near bridge; so far so good for traffic
Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.
