Bend’s low Brosterhous Road railroad bridge claims another victim when semi slams into it, gets stuck

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend’s low railroad bridge near Murphy Road claimed another victim Monday afternoon, when an enclosed semi-truck struck the overpass and became wedged underneath, forcing a closure of Brosterhous Road in both directions while crews worked for hours to free it.​

Bend Police said the crash happened at 1:43 p.m. on Brosterhous Road near Murphy Road and Caldera High School, a spot that has seen numerous similar incidents over the years because the railroad overcrossing is lower than many others.

According to BNSF officials and police at the scene, semi-trucks hit this bridge three to four or more times a year, though it is rare for them to become as lodged or stuck as this one did.​

No injuries were reported, and the driver was cited. A tow truck initially tried to detach the tractor from the trailer but couldn’t because of how firmly the rig was wedged under the bridge. They ultimately had to pull the entire tractor‑trailer out from behind in a more forceful maneuver, but as of 3:30 p.m. the truck still had not been fully cleared from the scene.​

BNSF officials noted that, fortunately, there were no trains currently reliant on this route as their only option, or the crash could have caused serious rail traffic problems. Trains were routed away from the area until the semi could be dislodged and a BNSF bridge inspector could confirm the span is structurally safe, meaning drivers on Reed Market Road might actually have caught a rare break from the usual long waits at that notorious railroad crossing.​

Long History of Crashes

This overpass has a long history of trouble. In 2012, KTVZ reported on a semi that hit the same bridge so hard it shifted the railroad tracks three feet out of alignment.

In another case, two years later, a semi-truck carrying 76 cattle struck the overpass, killing four calves when the Prineville driver misjudged the height, authorities said at the time.

BNSF has asked the city of Bend not to allow trucks on Brosterhous because of the recurring collisions, but city officials have said the railroad would have to move its line instead.​

Officials said these crashes typically happen at night, and by the time police arrive, the truck has already been towed away, often within an hour or two, when the vehicle is not lodged as badly as this one.

Authorities again urged commercial drivers and anyone hauling tall loads to pay close attention to clearance signs and to use alternate routes with adequate height to avoid turning this low bridge into yet another expensive and disruptive obstacle.