Accident When Driver Upended by Drawbridge

Drawbridges are a major part of Florida’s infrastructure, a necessity for a state defined by its coastline, rivers, and swamps. These bridges have one or more moving parts that lift to allow boats to pass through and lower to allow vehicles to drive across. For many Floridians, drawbridges are so ubiquitous as to be barely noticeable – at least until something goes wrong, as it did recently in a terrifying incident. You can see the horror of the drawbridge accident that was caught on video.

On Oct. 21, 2021, a driver crossing a drawbridge over the Intracoastal Waterway became trapped while the bridge was being raised. According to news reports, the unidentified motorist drove onto the bridge while both safety gates were raised. However, before he could drive off the other side, the gates lowered, blocking his path and trapping the car on the drawbridge’s moving element, which then began to lift. As it did so, it pushed the car forward, causing its front bumper to become stuck on the non-moving element, which then trapped it in place above a growing gap 40 feet above the water.

At this point, the driver opened his door and seemed to consider leaving his vehicle. However, he ultimately elected to stay in the car, which proved fortunate. As the deck continued to rise, it eventually created a slope steep enough that the car rolled forward onto the bridge’s static element.

News reports about the incident say a bridge operator raised the bridge after checking video cameras that showed that both sides of the bridge were clear. However, the driver had already gone past the first set of cameras, and the bridge operator did not step out of their control booth to make sure it was safe to raise the bridge. Reports indicate the negligent bridge operator has been fired.

Related Cases

One reason this incident has received so much attention recently is that it comes in the wake of a similar event, one far more tragic. According to Fox 13 Tampa Bay, a 79-year-old woman died on Feb. 6, 2022, after falling from a drawbridge as it was being raised. The woman was crossing the bridge on her bike when the bridge began to rise. She was able to hang on for several minutes while a bystander attempted to help her, but she eventually lost her grip and fell several stories onto the concrete base of the bridge. The bridge tender faces allegations of failing to follow safety protocols, leading to the woman’s death.

Together, these two incidents underscore the potential dangers of drawbridges, particularly when they are not operated correctly.

Contact Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano for Help with Your Case

Car accidents are an all too common occurrence in Florida. If you were hurt in a crash and someone else is to blame, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and related expenses. Contact a personal injury lawyer in Gainesville from Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano. You can receive a  free consultation with an experienced Gainesville car accident lawyer.