Delaware ‘can opener’ crash caught on police dash cam

DELAWARE, Ohio — A crash between a tractor-trailer and a notorious low railroad bridge was caught on a police dash camera.

The railroad bridge along West Central Avenue (State Route 37) is known to many as the ‘Can Opener,’ due to its uncanny ability to catch truck drivers unaware of its height until it takes the top off their trailer.

In 2022, one such incident was caught on camera by a police officer who happened to be a few cars behind. According to a crash report, it happened on October 10. The out-of-state driver of truck carrying a 36,000 pound load drove past all of the warning signs placed on Central Avenue before the bridge. As the driver approached the bridge, the warning system lit up, but he apparently didn’t notice it.

What the driver did notice, however, was his truck coming to a sudden stop as it struck the bridge. The bridge was unharmed, and the trailer only sustained minor damage.

A Delaware police officer a few cars back caught it all on his dash camera.

The driver was cited for the crash and paid a $1,000 fine.

The warning system, referenced above, was installed in 2018, and seems to have reduced the number of crashes. However, it clearly hasn’t eliminated them.

DelawareO is working on cataloging the last few years of ‘can opener’ incidents. Stay tuned.