Trucker charged with damaging covered bridge

EAST PIKELAND TWP. -- A truck driver has been charged after his big rig heavily damaged a covered bridge in East Pikeland Township, Chester County.

Antoine Branham, 37, of Erial, New Jersey surrendered on Monday to face charges of felony criminal mischief, risking a catastrophe and other traffic violations after the incident on the Rapps Dam covered bridge.

He had been on the job just four days when the crash happened back on April 29th.

Back on the day of the crash, Branham said he didn't see the height restriction ahead of the bridge.

Branham was arraigned and released on $100,000 unsecured bail with a preliminary hearing set for June 12th.

Investigators say Branham's truck, which was carrying potted plants, made it all the way through the bridge, but not before tearing out most of the wooden support beams.

Images from Chopper 6 on April 29th showed the truck parked nearby with debris from the bridge still resting on top of the trailer.

Police say Branham claims the GPS in his truck directed him to the bridge, adding he just got his commercial driver's license 30 days beforehand.

Investigators say he hit the first beam and kept on going.

The 106-foot long, 14-foot wide covered bridge just underwent a $1.5 million rehab back in 2011.