Rural Missouri Bridge Collapses Under Overweight Semi

A bridge near Westphalia collapsed Monday after a semi-trailer attempted to cross.

The Pentecostal Bridge, which takes County Road 611 across the Maries River, had a 5-ton weight limit, Osage County Sheriff Micahel Bonham said. The weight limit is displayed with signs.

The average 18-wheeler weighs close to 40 tons, according to website The Truckers Report.

The semi attempted to cross the bridge 10:30-11 a.m. Monday, and the bridge collapsed. The driver of the truck sustained no injuries.

Bonham said the situation is currently being evaluated for more information, including why the driver was in the area. "That’s a gravel road, where he was at, and we’re not sure why he was over there," Bonham said.