County Bridge Severely Damaged by Garbage Truck

A county bridge located 2 ½ miles east and 2 ½ miles south of Sterling was damaged by a garbage truck owned by Waste Connections of Nebraska Inc., out of Lincoln, in an accident on September 9. The driver of the garbage truck, Trey Erbst of Lincoln was traveling west on 730 Road west of 614 Avenue, as an alternate route to his next collection stop due to a road closure on his regular route.
Erbst passed a bridge weight limit sign indicating an 8 ton limit for a straight truck. He drove the garbage truck, with an empty weight of 36,000 pounds, over the bridge causing the wood deck of the bridge to partially collapse.
As of Friday, October 9, the bridge was being surveyed by engineers to determine whether it could be repaired or would have to be totaled. Damage to the bridge was estimated at $200,000 to $1 million. Damage to the undercarriage of the garbage truck was estimated at $1,000.