FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Officials with the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post are asking for help in finding whoever hit and damaged a US 30 overpass in November. ISP only recently became aware that there was footage of the actual incident.
Police say that a semi was hauling an excavator on November 16, 2022, heading under US 33 on US 30.
The excavator hit the bridge and caused extensive damage. Police say it was never reported.
However, Purdue University sent video footage of the crash to INDOT from a camera Purdue had been using for a structural engineering project.
Now, ISP officials are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Officials with the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post released the following:
State Troopers are investigating a hit and run crash involving a semi-tractor/trailer that caused extensive damage to an overpass bridge on US30 under US33 in Allen County.
The crash, which occurred back on November 16, 2022 at approximately 5:00pm, had initially gone unreported until video footage of the incident was discovered, thanks to Purdue University and a university camera that had been installed on the US33 bridge for a structural engineering project. Purdue reported the incident to INDOT, which in turn conducted an inspection of the bridge supports and found extensive damage.
In the photos shown below, the investigation has identified the involved semi-tractor as a white 2014 or newer Kenworth T880, pulling a flatbed trailer hauling a John Deere excavator. The excavator is possibly a John Deere model 135G or 160G. The top of the excavator’s boom arm would have struck the bridge support beams as it passed under the overpass, and therefore should have signs of damage possibly in need of repair.
The last known location of the involved semi-tractor/trailer was continuing westbound on US30 into Columbia City. To date, investigators have yet to identify or locate the vehicle (nor the driver) involved.
Anyone having information that may help identify and/or locate the semi-tractor, the driver, or the excavator, is being asked to please contact the Indiana State Police by calling (260)432-8661. Your personal information may remain confidential.