Iowa Avenue railroad bridge strikes another truck

Truck driver fails to clear 10.5-foot clearance, damaging vehicle

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:30pm

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The Iowa Avenue railroad bridge in Iowa City was the site of another accident, as a Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber box truck struck the 10.5-foot clearance bridge while heading eastbound, peeling back the front portion of the roof. Iowa City and University of Iowa Police responded to the incident just before 8:00 AM on Thursday.

Why it matters

The Iowa Avenue railroad bridge has a history of truck collisions, averaging about two accidents per year. The bridge, built in 1904 as part of the CRANDIC rail line, poses an ongoing safety risk for drivers who fail to properly gauge the clearance height.

The details

Photos on social media show the Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber box truck struck the bridge, with the impact peeling back the front portion of the truck's roof. Iowa City and University of Iowa Police responded to the incident just before 8:00 AM on Thursday.

  • The incident occurred just before 8:00 AM on Thursday, March 27, 2026.

The players

Iowa City Police

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the incident.

University of Iowa Police

The campus police force that also responded to the incident, as the bridge is located next to the English-Philosophy Building on the University of Iowa campus.

Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber

The company that owns the box truck that struck the Iowa Avenue railroad bridge.

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The takeaway

The Iowa Avenue railroad bridge continues to pose a safety risk for drivers, highlighting the need for improved signage, clearance markings, or potential infrastructure changes to prevent future collisions and damage to vehicles.