MONTEZUMA - After delivering a number of new Nissans to Le Burn Motor's Inc. in Waterloo, Charles Nash, 41, continued his trip to Cicero, traveling along Routes 5 and 20.

But when he reached the Menard Memorial Bridge in Montezuma, a sports utility vehicle located on the front end of the car-carrier caught onto one of the bridge's support beams. The car then rolled backward - crushing three vehicles on the trailer - and crashed to the ground.

"He is lucky he didn't kill someone," said Susan Sherman.

Sherman was one of two Montezuma fire police who responded to the call around 6 p.m. Monday.

Stationed at one end of the bridge with her husband, Bob, at the other, Sherman directed traffic around the crushed, black Nissan Xterra that fell off the tractor-trailer.

"This is a mighty low bridge," Sherman said. "He should have known better than to try and clear it."

The Seneca and Cayuga County sheriff's departments responded to the accident and reported no injuries. There was a significant amount of damage done to three of the bridge's support beams and the road was covered with broken glass.

"It was pretty messy," said Auburn resident Kevin Kelly who was traveling along Route 20 on his way home from work. He said the whole top row of cars was damaged.

Police cars crowded one lane of the bridge as Seneca County sheriff's deputies tried to determine why the tractor-trailer did not clear the bridge.

The New York state Department of Transportation also reported to the scene to assess how much damage was done to the bridge. One of the beams had been completely dislocated while two others were significantly bent.

Neither of the investigations were concluded by late Monday night.

"We are not sure at this point what happened," said Sgt. Mike Schell of the Seneca County Sheriff's Department.

"We are investigating to see if it was human error or a malfunction with the truck."

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or

ashley.lipsky@lee.net