Truck driver's permit revoked after load hits bridge

Grandin, ND (WDAY TV) - The North Dakota Highway Patrol has revoked the permit of the trucker whose oversize truck load hit the bottom of a bridge over I-94. 40-year-old Michael Offerman of FTC Transport had a permit for 16.1 feet, the bridge is 16.6 feet.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol will not give a permit within three inches of the bridge height. After last Tuesday’s accident, the truck and culvert were measured at 16.5 feet.

Authorities say Offerman admitted the culvert was higher than permitted for. The 47 foot long pipe bent the bridges beam down and over about two feet.

"Safety-wise the bridge is fine, traffic's still going over the top. We do have some drums over the top of the bridge just to shy traffic away from one end of the bridge, but everything's structurally fine."

Crews expect to be finished repairing the bridge and open I-29 by tomorrow night or Wednesday. The DOT is working with the transport's insurance company to determine who will pay for the damages.

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