Frank Denzler
In an attempt to avoid striking another vehicle a northbound moving truck struck a county bridge shortly after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on CR 800E near Falmouth.
“I saw a small, black vehicle approaching and thought the driver was going to slow down and let me get through the bridge. It appeared that he was in fact speeding up. We met as we both entered the bridge,” Raymond Swigart, 48, of Orange, said.
Swigart was in the process of relocating to Rush County from the New Lisbon area, had just dropped a load of furniture at his new residence and was making a return trip when the accident occurred.
He was behind the wheel of a U-Haul moving truck and was northbound on CR 800E when he met a southbound vehicle on the narrow county road that separates Rush and Fayette counties, south of the Falmouth grain elevator.
“There was no where for me to go. When I realized he was not going to stop I turned the wheel to the right in an effort to not hit the car and hit the bridge,” Swigart said.
The southbound vehicle did not stop following the accident.
Swigart assessed the damage to his rented vehicle and used a cell phone to notify county law enforcement.
“He was fortunate that the vehicle did not roll after striking the bridge,” investigating officer Dave Sliger of the Rush County Sheriff’s Department said.
After the impact, the truck left the east side of the road and entered a steep side ditch before Swigart was able to regain control.
“In looking back over the path I took, I don’t know how I made it back to the road without rolling, especially since the truck was empty. At least I managed to not enter the nearby bean field,” Swigart said.
Swigart, who was not injured in the accident, took the situation in stride.
“This is a great way to begin living in the county, with an accident,” he said.
Republican Staff Writer Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@cnhimedia.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
