Trucking News · Illinois · November 2, 2026

Box Truck Gets Stuck Under Long Grove, Illinois, Covered Bridge Again, a Low-Clearance Warning for Truckers

By Big Rig Daily Staff

A box truck became stuck under the historic covered bridge in Long Grove, Illinois, on Saturday, Oct. 31, in a repeat of an incident the village knows well. The Lake and McHenry County Scanner and the Daily Herald both reported it. Neither report mentioned any injuries.

What happened

A white box truck was beneath the bridge on Robert Parker Coffin Road near Old McHenry Road around 12:55 p.m. Saturday, according to the Scanner, which cites surveillance footage from a nearby business. Long Grove Village President Bill Jacob confirmed the strike to the Daily Herald, which gives the time as about 12:56 p.m. The Scanner says a Lake County Sheriff's Office squad car was at the scene.

How the truck got out

Jacob told the Daily Herald that crews let the air out of the truck's tires and then pulled the truck out. The bridge, as in most of these incidents, was not damaged, he said. The Scanner says it was not immediately known how long it took to get the truck out or whether the bridge was damaged.

The clearance and the signs

A yellow sign on the bridge marks its 8-foot-6-inch clearance, and another sign on the approach bars trucks beyond that point, the Scanner reports. Lake County Sheriff's Office Chief Christopher Covelli has said previously that "there are numerous signs informing drivers of the height restriction and signs prohibiting trucks and buses from using the bridge."

Ticket and driver's account

Jacob told the Daily Herald the driver received a $750 ticket for a village ordinance violation and reported that he did not see the warning signs. A manager of a nearby shop told the paper the driver said he was following GPS directions. The village has taken steps meant to keep GPS systems from sending trucks to the bridge, including declaring the road a private road so it can be closed to truck traffic, Jacob said.

How many hits

Counts differ. The Scanner reports it as at least the 79th hit since 2018 and at least the ninth this year, and the second in less than a month. The Daily Herald reports that, depending on who counts, it was the 78th or the 87th collision since the bridge reopened after renovations in 2020. Jacob counts 87, while a shop manager counts 78 and counts a hit when a vehicle gets stuck and a tow truck and police respond. Big Rig Daily is not choosing between the counts. The previous strike reported by the Scanner was on Oct. 3, when a rented box truck was blocked about an hour and was pulled out after air was let out of its tires.

About the bridge

The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was renamed in September 2022 for Robert Parker Coffin, who designed the bridge cover, the Scanner reports.

A reminder for truckers

Low bridges are a well-known risk for anyone behind the wheel of a tall vehicle. Big Rig Daily has covered a New Jersey bill on truck GPS, low bridges and weight limits, and the pre-trip inspection checklist is a place to start for any walk-around.

Quick facts

• When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, about 12:55 p.m.
• Where: Robert Parker Coffin Bridge, Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove, Illinois.
• Clearance: 8 feet 6 inches.
• Ticket: $750 for a village ordinance violation, per the village president.
• Injuries: none mentioned in the reports.
• Count of hits: 79th since 2018 (Scanner); 78th or 87th since 2020 depending on who counts (Daily Herald).

FAQ

What is the Long Grove covered bridge clearance?

8 feet 6 inches, according to the Scanner.

Was the Long Grove covered bridge damaged?

The village president told the Daily Herald it was not. The Scanner said it was not immediately known.

Was the box truck driver ticketed at the Long Grove bridge?

Yes, a $750 ticket for a village ordinance violation, according to the village president.

A question for readers

Truckers, how do you check the height and route before a delivery in an unfamiliar town?

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