Truck hits bridges, closing Franklin Ave. underpass

Inspections done after concrete falls to street

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The boom of an excavator being hauled on a truck struck a pair of bridges over Bend's Franklin Avenue Thursday morning, prompting closure of the underpass for about two hours while they were inspected, police said.

Lt. Juli McConkey said the driver, a 46-year-old Bend man, was heading east on Franklin when the main boom on his excavator struck the Bend Parkway and BNSF Railway bridges.

The driver stopped near Les Schwab Tires, cooperated with law enforcement and was not cited as a result of the incident, she added.

Debris fell from the bridges onto the roadway, but no other vehicles were involved or struck by the debris.

Bend Public Works helped close the underpass for about two hours while ODOT and railroad inspectors checked the bridges, deeming them safe.

A small hole from knocked-off concrete could be seen as inspections were underway. The road reopened around 11:30 a.m.