Home » North Fork » Roll-Over Crash Blocks Road 200, Damages Fine Gold Bridge
Crash at Fine Gold Creek Bridge - photo by Gina Clugston

Roll-Over Crash Blocks Road 200, Damages Fine Gold Bridge

NORTH FORK — A single-vehicle crash at the Fine Gold Creek bridge blocked the road for about an hour this morning, and tore a big chunk out of the 70-year-old bridge.

A 60-year-old man from Fresno was eastbound on Road 200 in a 2009 Lincoln Town Car registered to a limousine service in the valley, when he entered the 25 mph corner at the bridge at too high a rate of speed, according to CHP.

The driver told officers he was going about 45 mph as he turned to the right to enter the curve, but the car just kept turning. He struck the wooden guardrail on the east end of the bridge, tearing out two posts and the railing, and knocking the concrete abutment into a highway marker.

The Lincoln overturned onto its roof, coming to rest blocking the eastbound lane.

Amazingly the driver was not injured and was able to climb out of the overturned vehicle through the driver’s door.

The roadway was blocked in both directions for nearly an hour as the scene was cleared.

County Roads responded to deal with the damage to the bridge, which the County is currently in the planning phase of replacing — including straightening out the 25 mph corner which sees its share of crashes every year.

The accident remains under investigation.

 

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Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online