Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Saturday, December 22, 2012
(AUBURN) - A truck driver from Illinois has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for badly damaging a 140-year-old wooden covered bridge in northeastern Indiana by driving a too-tall semitrailer through it.
A DeKalb County judge ordered the sentence Thursday for 47-year-old Gerard Hudson of Waukegan, Ill. He pleaded guilty last week to a felony charge of criminal mischief.
The Star of Auburn reports Hudson told the judge he was sorry about the damage and that he was fatigued. Police said Hudson told officers that his rig's GPS device had directed him to cross Spencerville Covered Bridge about 20 miles north of Fort Wayne.
The one-lane bridge was closed after the semi tore down several 6-by-6-inch crossbeams and roof trusses. County officials expect repairs to cost more than $100,000.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.