Drawbridge in southern New Jersey begins to rise as family in car is crossing, father guns it across
18 replies, posted
[quote]CAPE MAY COUNTY, N.J. – Members of a New Jersey family say they're lucky to be alive after a terrifying incident while crossing the Middle Thorofare Bridge, which connects Wildwood and Cape May.
CBS Philadelphia reports it happened on Aug. 1, when the Naphys family was heading to Cape May to shop and eat.
When the bridge started to open, driver Terrance Naphys says he barely had time to think, so he gunned the engine and cleared the opening.
[B]"My wife said, 'I think the bridge is opening,"' said Terrence recalled.
"He accelerated, and of course then we landed with a big impact on the concrete on the other side," said Jackie Naphys.[/B]
According to New Jersey State Police, Naphys had just finished paying the toll when they continued toward the top of the bridge.
But that's when, police say, an employee of the bridge commission flipped a switch to activate the flashing red lights and flashing rails on the bridge.[/quote]
[url]https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drawbridge-rises-with-couples-car-still-on-it/[/url]
Fucking terrifying, I cross this bridge often during summer when going to the beach.
I know the actual event is a couple weeks old, but it's just now being reported around here so I hope this still counts as recent news.
snip
[QUOTE=Helix Snake;52589454]Does he think he lives in a fucking 80s movie[/QUOTE]
umm.. the bridge was abruptly raised while the car was on it. the father and his family might've died if he didn't accelerate. did you read the article? though i admit that the OP could've phrased the title differently.
Why not back up instead of gunning it across?
[QUOTE=Spartan8907;52589534]Why not back up instead of gunning it across?[/QUOTE]
Probably because he didn't have time to think about it. He paid to go forward, foot is over the gas. Suddenly his entire families life is in danger and he has a couple seconds to act. That point it's just instinct
[QUOTE=Spartan8907;52589534]Why not back up instead of gunning it across?[/QUOTE]
would likely have been worse based on what I've heard
[QUOTE=Spartan8907;52589534]Why not back up instead of gunning it across?[/QUOTE]
He was probably already travelling at a good speed going forward.
He would have to not just slow down, but stop, put the vehicle in reverse, turn around and start driving back all while his family panics.
There probably just was not enough time to do any of that. Especially if he was already close to the center of the bridge. It's not an exceptionally large bridge to cross, either.
[QUOTE=Spartan8907;52589534]Why not back up instead of gunning it across?[/QUOTE]
Because that wouldn't have been anywhere near as cool
If his instinct was to accelerate he probably felt like he didn't have enough time to slow down without driving over the edge. The moving section looks like it's only 3-4 car lengths so that makes more sense. It doesn't look like there are two halves like a proper drawbridge either; if there were they'd probably be fucked.
If the bridge rose quickly enough for the car to roll backward at a dangerous speed and crash into the hard angle where it met the road, but if you had enough time to slow down I don't see why trying to jump it would be your first guess.
Sounds like a scene from National Lampoon
Given the circumstances, I think he did the right thing. And as a side effect, now he has one hell of a story to tell at gatherings, "that one time I had to gun it across a raising bridge".
[QUOTE=milktree;52589487]umm.. the bridge was abruptly raised while the car was on it. the father and his family might've died if he didn't accelerate. did you read the article? though i admit that the OP could've phrased the title differently.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I misread the opening snippet, I apologize.
That thing must have opened up pretty damn quick, the toll booth is like, less than 20 ft. before the actual drawbridge portion.
[t]https://i.gyazo.com/b27179236033546a78c1a5bdd5b8a3c9.jpg[/t]
Whoever raised the bridge on them should probably be fired. Someone could have died from this mistake.
