Vehicle damages railroad trestle

Two South Carolina men were taken to a Georgia hospital early Friday after making it partially across the Sixth Street railroad trestle in downtown Augusta before crashing a Ford F150 into a support beam, officials report.

Richmond County deputies said the driver, James Ryan Anderson, 26, and his brother, Todd Anderson, were trying to travel from Augusta across the Savannah River into Aiken County but turned onto the railroad bridge next to St. Paul's Church instead, according to Augusta news outlets.

Neither man reportedly had life threatening injuries.

The truck became lodged into the metal case surrounding the tracks, partially hanging over the edge, but the men made it out safely.

Witnesses said the truck was speeding between 5 and 5:30 a.m.

The driver apparently thought he was on the Fort Gordon Highway headed home when he drove onto the trestle at about 60 mph and crashed into an I-beam, the witnesses added.

A boat owner at the marina said he heard a loud noise in the early morning but thought little of it because there is a lot going on in that area early in the morning.

Steve Daly, with Mobile Marine, said he understood a person from the vehicle fled the area. North Augusta Public Safety officers found a blood trail leading to the North Augusta side of the trestle.

When officials began to clear the crash debris, they said the easiest path would be to push the truck the rest of the way off the trestle and onto the ground below, and then completed the task.

Daly said the "little old ladies" who keep up the flower beds below were not going to be happy, since the truck crashed onto the garden.

Augusta officials said there was significant damage to the bridge, and train travel will be temporarily stopped while repairs are made.