Traffic on Third Street was halted on March 12 as crews worked to clear the scene of an accident at the underpass, where a semi hauling a piece of agricultural equipment failed to make it under the clearance, striking the bridge.
Alliance Police Department Chief John Kiss said officers received the report of the accident at 1:50 p.m. The 2003 Peterbilt semi was driven by Lester Smith of Palisade, and owned by Diamond and Heart Trucking Company of Curtis.
“He was westbound in the 800 block, approaching the underpass,” said Kiss. “The underpass clearance is 13 feet, 11 inches. The semi straddled the center line, and went underneath that way. He had an alarm in his tractor that’s set for 14 feet, and he thought he could make it, and ran into the underpass.”
Kiss noted there was approximately $1,000 worth of damage to the underpass, and $1,000 of damage to the equipment being hauled. The accident did not disrupt operation of the railroad. Kiss noted that no citation was issued to the driver.