SOUTHBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS — A Toll Brothers tractor-trailer hauling building materials became wedged under the River Street Bridge on the Southborough-Hopkinton line near Route 85 Tuesday evening in yet another low-bridge strike at a crossing that locals say has been hit repeatedly over the years — and this time a commuter train passed over the structure while a worker was still cutting away the peeled-back trailer roof below.
Southborough Police confirmed no one was injured. A CSX inspector cleared the bridge before trains were allowed to proceed, and commuter rail service continued without disruption through the evening.
Witness Phyllis Doig captured video of the scene and said the reaction from everyone involved — including passengers on the train — was remarkably calm. “I was very surprised when the first train came through — it came through slowly at first but then proceeded as normal. People were all just sitting in their seats on the train, not looking out the window much, as if it was another day in the life — it was odd.” Even the train conductor appeared unfazed, waving and shrugging as the train rolled through.
A Bridge With a Long History of Being Hit
The River Street Bridge has been struck by trucks multiple times over the years despite the installation of a flashing warning sign. Local chronicler John Kendall, who has documented bridge strikes at this location for years, noted that after two incidents in 2025 he believed both drivers were inexperienced and likely using consumer GPS apps like Google Maps rather than commercial GPS systems that flag low bridge clearances.
When asked last fall what might finally stop the incidents, Kendall was candid: “Paint the bridge yellow and then letter it LOW BRIDGE? Flashing lights on the bridge? Bridge mounted machine gun? Dunno. Trucks still hit the Westboro bridge no matter what they put up.”
He advocates that tractor-trailer drivers use commercial GPS systems designed to warn of low clearances rather than consumer navigation apps.
Interviews courtesy of local media and MySouthborough.com.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
