A pastor's wife died in a New Year's Eve accident while crossing the flooded Pipe Creek Road slab in Franklin County.
The Pipe Creek Road slab in Franklin County. Image via Google Street View.
(Franklin County, Ind.) - Slab bridges are getting new scrutiny after the death of a woman whose car was swept away by a rushing creek.
A slab bridge is a solid concrete structure sitting directly in a creek bed, not elevated above the water like most, safer bridges. Motorists can usually cross them without much trouble when the water is not high.
But, Carol Jackson died after attempting to cross such a bridge overrun by water on Pipe Creek Road in Franklin County on New Year’s Eve. Rain had been pouring down all day, leading to flash flooding in the area.
State lawmakers including State Senator Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) say major improvements have been made to Indiana’s rural roads and bridges in recent years, but more needs to be done.
Franklin County Commissioners have not indicated if improvements are planned for the Pipe Creek Road slab bridge. Better signage is expected to be added there soon.
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