Weather may have played a role in concrete truck crashing off bridge in New Bern
Tuesday's weather may have played a role in an accident where a concrete truck was driving on the Trent River Bridge between James City and New Bern before it crashed through the guard rail.
North Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Riggs said James Farland of Pink Hill was traveling on U.S. 17 heading southbound from Bridgeton when he began to merge into traffic on the Trent River Bridge.
Farland was driving an empty 18-wheel concrete truck when he turned west bound heading towards New Bern and crashed through the barrier, falling 50 feet below.
Riggs added highway patrol believe the rain in the area from earlier in the morning may have played a role in Farland crashing through the barrier.
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Farland was transported to ECU Health in Greenville as Riggs said he believes his injuries are not life threatening.
The accident happened around 11:46 a.m. Tuesday morning and Farland was the only person in the truck. He was believed to be driving the speed limit as Riggs said speed was not a factor in the crash.
According to a representative at the site of the crash, Farland is an employee of S&W Ready Mix Concrete in New Bern.
This is the second time this year a truck has driven over the concrete barrier on the Trent River Bridge. In May, a flat-bed truck lost control, crashed into a concrete guard rail, falling over the rail.
Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: N.C. Highway Patrol investigating crash where truck drove off Trent River Bridge
