Most drivers see a “Road Closed” sign and understand that whatever lies ahead probably is not worth finding out firsthand. One New Jersey driver reportedly took a different approach, steering around signs that completely blocked both lanes before continuing into a bridge construction zone.
The decision ended with the vehicle wedged between an excavator and concrete rebar, with the metal reportedly impaling the driver’s side. Despite the damage, the driver was not injured.
The vehicle came to rest before an even more serious hazard. About 30 feet ahead was a 15- to 20-foot drop into high water where the bridge would ordinarily be. The bridge had been removed as part of the ongoing construction project.
The Graves County Sheriff’s Office said the driver admitted knowingly going around the closure signs and traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control on the wet surface.
Driver Went Around Signs Blocking Both Lanes
The crash happened around 2 a.m. on July 11 along the closed portion of Kentucky Highway 45 South between Wingo and Water Valley in Graves County.
Tire ruts ran through the grass beside the road closure signs, which had been positioned across both lanes. The vehicle had gone around the barricades rather than simply missing a warning placed along the shoulder.
Beyond the closure, the car was found wedged between an excavator and rebar being used for concrete work. One section of rebar had impaled the vehicle’s driver’s side.
The driver admitted to knowingly driving around the signs while traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control on the wet roadway and crashing into the construction equipment. Despite the damage, the driver was not injured.
Car Stopped 30 Feet Before Missing Bridge
The excavator and rebar were not the only hazards waiting beyond the closure.
About 30 feet ahead of where the vehicle came to rest was an estimated 15- to 20-foot drop into the water. The bridge that would normally carry traffic over that area had been removed because of the construction project.
Recent excessive rainfall had also left the water unusually high.
Sheriff Jon Hayden used the incident to remind motorists that traffic control devices are not placed merely to inconvenience them. “Please obey traffic control signs and warnings,” Hayden wrote. “They are there for a reason.”
Driver Cited After the Crash
The driver was cited for reckless driving and driving too fast for traffic conditions.
The sheriff’s office did not report that the driver was impaired or announce any additional criminal charges. It also did not indicate that the driver was arrested or booked into jail. As a result, Guessing Headlights is choosing not to identify the young driver. The focus of this story is the safety lesson, not turning one costly mistake into a lasting public label.
An Expensive Reminder to Obey Road Closures
Road closure signs can frustrate drivers, particularly when a detour adds time to a trip. However, the danger beyond a closure may not be visible from the barricade.
A closed road can contain missing pavement, washed-out sections, deep floodwater, open trenches, unstable ground, heavy machinery, exposed steel, or a bridge that has been partially or completely removed.
In this case, the road beyond the signs contained wet surfaces, heavy construction equipment, exposed rebar, and a bridge that was no longer there.
Ignoring a barricade may appear to save a few minutes, but it can quickly lead to vehicle damage, traffic citations, and a situation that could have ended far differently. Fortunately, no one was injured in this crash.