Charges filed in Dennis bridge crash as new detours announced


DENNIS – The Massachusetts State Police will seek to charge the driver of the tractor trailer whose cargo struck the top of the Old Bass River Bridge overpass on Route 6 westbound in Dennis last night. The driver, a 41-year-old Brockton man, will be summonsed to appear in Orleans District Court on charges operating to endanger, operating after license suspension, and an overheight violation.

Preliminary investigation by Troopers assigned to State Police-Yarmouth indicate that the Brockton man was driving a 2020 Kenworth T880 and pulling a trailer carrying a hydraulic lift that was too high to pass under the bridge. The impact from the lift striking the bridge caused chunks of concrete to become dislodged.

Dislodged concrete struck the hood and windshield of a 2014 Mazda 3 that was traveling on Route 6. The passenger in the Mazda, a 55-year-old Brewster woman suffered serious injuries when her car was struck by the concrete. The driver of the Mazda, a 56-year-old Brewster man, suffered minor injuries. Both were transported to Cape Cod Hospital.

The truck driver was not injured.

Meanwhile, The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing the Old Bass River Road Bridge in Dennis above Route 6 will remain closed for at least several days after being damaged in a traffic incident on Friday evening, December 6. In addition, crews will work Sunday to perform a detailed assessment of the bridge structure which will mean that as of 6:30 a.m., December 8, the right travel lane of Route 6 westbound near the bridge will be closed and the ramp from Route 134 southbound to Route 6 westbound will be closed.

An initial structural analysis found that two of the bridge beams were severed.  Additional investigation and analysis is required to determine short-term measures and repair options which will be necessary to partially or fully open the Old Bass River Road Bridge to traffic.

It is anticipated that the bridge will remain fully closed until at least mid-week as the analysis is performed.

Full repairs to the bridge will be challenging due to the bridge structure being comprised of steel reinforced concrete beams, restrictions due to winter weather conditions and the close proximity to the Route 134, exit 9 interchange.



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