Police still seeking driver that damaged Barrow Bridge

IT WAS early May that Barrow Bridge 16 on the Trent & Mersey Canal was damaged.

But the police are still attempting to trace the driver of what must have been an heavy vehicle that subsequently caused Canal & River Trust many thousands of pounds to repair, Janet Friend reports.

Navigation closed

After the damage the navigation was closed until the debris had been removed from the waterway though the road was closed for more than six weeks.

The police maintain the driver had committed a criminal offence by not stopping and reporting what happened.

It also meant the trust was unable to recoup the cost from the driver's insurers, not being able to trace the driver. Such was the scale of the damage it is believed it was an HGV that hit the parapet of the bridge.

Penalties

As the driver had damaged property, he or she should have reported the collision to police. The penalties for not doing so include a fine, up to six months in prison, penalty points on their licence and a court can also disqualify the driver from driving.

It is recorded that the bridge has been damaged by vehicles 16 times over the past 20 years.