Camper trailer loses equipment at the 11foot8+8 bridge

This is an older video I wanted to share, showing that trying to slowly squeeze under a bridge doesn’t change physics. There has been a more recent RV crash, which you can watch here.

On April 26, 2022, crash number 175 (at that time) occurred under Durham’s infamous Norfolk Southern–Gregson Street Overpass, widely known as the 11 ft 8 in (“Can Opener”) Bridge.

A camper trailer approached the bridge slowly, ignoring the massive flashing sign reading “OVERHEIGHT MUST TURN”. Despite the cautious pace, the bridge sheared off rooftop equipment as the vehicle passed beneath the protective crash beam.

This example falls under what crash‑watchers have dubbed the “Curious Cat” category: drivers who advance hesitantly, often hearing that first scrape of metal, but then press onward, hoping they’ll just clear it. Other incident types include the full‑speed “Bullet” and near‑miss “Barbershop Shave”, though in this case, the trailer didn’t escape unscathed.

Officials note that even after the bridge was raised in late 2019, from 11 ft 8 in to about 12 ft 4 in, the clearance remains below modern standards, and such collisions still occur. Multiple warning signs, sensors, and a red‑light delay signal (“OVERHEIGHT MUST TURN”) are intended to prevent such strikes, but drivers unfamiliar with their vehicle’s height or the local signals often ignore or misinterpret them. And I’m just being generous here… know you’re height and read signals!