ST. ALBANS – An 84-year-old Arundel man died late Friday when his truck plunged off the side of a snowmobile bridge and into a stream.

Roland Drew was found at 10:37 p.m., crushed by his Ford F-150 truck, at the bottom of a 15-foot stream embankment, according to Det. Lt. Carl E. Gottardi II of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

A friend was expecting Drew to arrive at a nearby camp around 8 p.m. Friday, Gottardi said. The friend searched for Drew and notified police that he had found Drew’s truck in a brook below Cyrs Siding Road.

Gottardi said it appeared the truck had drifted to the outer edge of the wooden snowmobile bridge and that some of the planks gave way. The Ford, said Gottardi, tumbled about 15 feet into about 12 inches of water.

The initial investigation indicated Drew may have tried to escape the truck during its descent and became lodged between the open door and truck. Gottardi said Drew was crushed by the truck and died at the scene.

Cpl. Michael Ross of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is reconstructing the crash.

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Debris from the truck and bridge littered the rocky streambed Sunday; yellow police tape cordoned off both ends of the bridge.

The bridge, which does not have side railings, is supported by two metal girders.

Gottardi said he was unsure when the span, which is about 10 feet wide and 20 feet long, would be reopened.

 


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