Mike Lewis and Roger Moon, Times-Mail
PAOLI — The historic iron bridge on South Gospel Street in Paoli collapsed early Friday afternoon when the driver of a semi-truck and trailer tried to cross the bridge from the south.
“The bridge just gave way,” said Mike Harkness, president of the Paoli Town Council.
The accident was reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 12:12 p.m. Crews were still on the scene at 7 p.m., with the truck still stuck on the bridge.
“We’re just going to have to get it out,” Harkness said.
The truck was leased by Penske Truck Leasing to Louisville Logistics, Harkness said. It was hauling bottled water.
“There were several skids of it” in the trailer, he said.
Investigators and emergency crews worked at the site throughout the afternoon. The sight also attracted a steady stream of spectators on a warmer-than-usual Christmas Day.
As the sun went down Friday, the focus remained on removing the truck. Harkness said it’s too early to determine what the next steps might be.
“The county owns the bridge (which dates to 1880),” he said. “It’s a town street, but the county owns the bridge.”
The structure spanned Lick Creek.
The Paoli Police Department is investigating.
A sign at the bridge notes that semis were prohibited from crossing it.