Benton Police are advising residents to use caution on a popular pedestrian path.
According to BPD, a car crash Monday damaged the foot bridge just south of West 24th St. in Benton. Police have deemed the bridge unsafe to travel.
Investigating officer Sgt. William Treadway said about 10:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, Tara Brown of Benton was driving north on Main Street in a Hyndai Elantra when she met another vehicle on the road that she perceived to be too close to the center lane. Brown overcorrected and veered off the left of the road before crossing the southbound lane of traffic, Treadway said. She then traveled about 330 feet through the grass before striking a mailbox, guide wire to a utility pole and the pedestrian bridge. Treadway said the car went down the embankment and struck a tree before coming to a rest.
Wet roads may have been a contributing factor in the crash, Treadway said.
Brown was not injured in the crash, he said.
The foot bridge has been blocked off with caution tape at both ends; residents are urged to use caution and watch for oncoming traffic when walking around the bridge.
The bridge is the third pedestrian crossing to suffer damage as the result of a collision in recent months in Benton, according to Benton Mayor Rita Dotson. Crews recently repaired damage to the foot bridge near E. 23rd St. and another on 12th Street after the two were struck in separate incidents on the same evening.