Hidden Dangers of Bridge Integrity

By Randall C. Resch

As a heavy operator working active recoveries atop rural bridges, have you ever considered the strength and integrity of the bridge itself?

On June 13, 2026, a passenger car simply drove across a rural bridge in Northern California when the structure suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, the driver suffered only minor injuries rather than being trapped or swept away.

According to local news reports, the California Highway Patrol stated, "It's unclear at this time why the bridge collapsed." CHP also reminded motorists, "When traveling on rural roadways, remain alert to changing road and bridge conditions."

That incident serves as an important safety reminder for towers who position wreckers on rural bridges during recoveries.

For operators responding to water recoveries near or beneath bridges, I pose this question: Do you stop to consider whether the bridge will safely support the combined weight of your wrecker, casualty vehicle, and recovery forces? If a bridge can fail under the weight of an ordinary passenger car, what confidence do you have placing a fully loaded heavy wrecker on it?

Unfortunately, bridge integrity isn't a topic commonly discussed during formal recovery training or in-house instruction. While operators aren'tbridge engineers, there is one safety technique every recovery professional should practice before setting up: Have a goal—get out and look.

Wreckers Gone Fishing 

An older YouTube video showed a rotator recovering submerged vehicles from a rural waterway after a fisherman located them using a Garmin fishfinder. Law enforcement responded, followed by a dive team and heavy recovery equipment.

In cases involving submerged vehicles, investigators must determine whether the vehicles are connected to criminal activity, theft, insurance fraud, or even missing-person cases. Preserving evidence is often a priority, and it's easy for recovery personnel to become focused solely on removing the vehicles.

That's when broader scene safety can be overlooked.

Questioning Integrity 

The video showed three heavily submerged vehicles being recovered individually. The rotator was positioned near the middle of a rural bridge while performing side lifts.

For just a moment, consider the total weight involved—not only the rotator itself, but also the added weight of waterlogged vehicles, recovery forces, and dynamic loading during the lift.

Several people stood beside the heavy wrecker observing the recovery. If the bridge had failed, they would have been directly in harm's way.

As I watched the footage, my "spidey senses" went off. A newer-looking steel section appeared beneath the rotator, but nearby was a large area of broken concrete only a short distance from the truck's front axle. Whether or not the damage was structural isn't the point. The question is: Did anyone stop to evaluate the bridge before committing a heavy recovery operation?

Unseen Peril 

Had the bridge collapsed during the recovery, the combined weight of the rotator and suspended vehicle could have sent the truck into the water, with potentially catastrophic consequences for both operators and bystanders.

Could the recovery have been performed differently? Perhaps the rotator could have remained on solid ground and winched the vehicles up the embankment instead of positioning directly on the bridge.

That isn't meant as criticism of the crew involved. Rather, it's a reminder that recovery professionals should evaluate every available option before committing equipment to a potentially compromised structure.

See the Simple 

Sometimes the simplest hazards are overlooked because all attention is focused on the recovery itself. Bridge condition should be part of every scene assessment, especially on rural roads where aging infrastructure may have unknown weaknesses.

As experienced towers, we must look beyond the casualty vehicle and identify every potential hazard before work begins. The old saying reminds us, "If you see something, say something." But first, you have to see it.

This recovery ended successfully, but it also serves as a valuable reminder. Operators can't assume that every rural bridge is capable of supporting today's increasingly heavy recovery equipment. When safety is in question, stop, assess the situation, and adjust the recovery plan accordingly.

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired, veteran, California police officer, former tow business owner and industry advocate. As consultant and trainer, he authored and teaches tow truck operator safety courses approved by the California Highway Patrol. For 57-years, he has been involved in the towing and recovery industry. In 29-years, he has contributed more than 800-safety focused articles for American Towman Magazine, TowIndustryWeek.com and POLICE Magazine. He is a frequent seminar presenter and beauty pageant judge at tow shows. In 2014, he was inducted to the International Towing and Recovery Industry Hall of Fame, was the 3rd recipient of the industry's "Dave Jones Leadership Award," and is a member of American Towman’s Safety Committee.

Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.