Iowa State Patrol crash report gives more details about bridge collapse

(decorahnews.com photo by Paul Scott)

The Iowa State Patrol has identified the driver of the feed truck that drove over the Dahly Bridge on Friday morning west of Bluffton, causing the bridge to collapse.

29-year-old Justin Hippen of Parkersburg was the driver of a Sinclair Milling truck which crossed the bridge around 9:15 Friday morning.

The Iowa State Patrol says Hippen's vehicle weighed an estimated at 15 tons when it crossed the bridge, which had a weight limit of 3 tons.  As a result, the bridge collapsed into the Upper Iowa River, with the truck coming to rest on the west side of the bridge.

The Iowa State Patrol estimates the damage to the bridge totaled $775,000, with the truck suffering $1,700 in damages.