Drivers in Bourne got more than they bargained for Thursday when chunks of ice rained down from the Sagamore Bridge, smashing windshields and causing chaos on the roadway. A Hyundai dealership employee, in a moment that could epitomize every driver's nightmare, found his car bombarded by falling ice as he ventured across the bridge, according to a CBS News Boston report. The employee managed to maintain control and pulled off the road unscathed, a testament to presence of mind in the midst of unforeseen peril.
Mark Rountree of Hyundai of Plymouth, reflecting on the harrowing incident, told CBS News Boston, "Of course, the main thing for us is our driver is safe. That was really all that matters." He added, "I've been in the automobile business for 30 years. I've never had ice fall off a bridge and damage a car." Regulars on the bridge echoed the sentiment of shock and concern, with a Mashpee driver admitting to the sheer terror of such an unexpected event and concerns over navigating the bridge's notoriously narrow lanes.
Another vehicle was also hit by the falling ice later that same day, managing narrowly to avoid the need for a tow, with damage to its sunroof reported by the police. These incidents paint a stark picture of the urgent need for infrastructure attention, with locals suggesting that mere remedies might not suffice. Some drivers expressed a belief that "We need new bridges," pointing at the larger issue of aging infrastructure contributing to the peril.
WHDH detailed further that state police found no injuries after responding to the incident involving a damaged 2021 Toyota Rav4 at approximately 2:30 p.m. The vehicle, which belonged to the Hyundai employee on an errand for the dealership, sustained a shattered windshield after the ice made its precipitous descent. The incident underscores an often overlooked winter hazard that can occur even without direct human error or negligence, as one man noted the circumstances—the aftermath of a storm and temperature fluctuations—created a dangerous cocktail overnight.
