On Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Tennessee High Patrol Trooper Jonathan Burke responded to a call on Highway 70 at the Rome Bridge. A dump truck was traveling west on Highway 70 in the Rome community with its dump bed raised and struck the overhead structure of the bridge.
According to the police report the driver of the dump truck, Charles Ray Bane, age 71 had just dumped a load of dirt at a residence near the bridge. He was traveling westbound in search of a place to turn around but failed to lower the truck bed which struck the overhead structure of the bridge. Bane was cited for failing to use due care, failing to immediately report an accident and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage.
We reached out to TDOT on Wednesday for comment about the whether the bridge is still structurally sound. They have not responded as of Friday morning.
