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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
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This is a tale of five Tripps and how they
all pulled together to save the truck. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday, April 24, 2013
“Hey Richie, we need you down to Hix Bridge
for a tow. Oh, and bring your boat,” police said. Earle fired up the harbormaster’s boat and steamed up the river. Photo/Adam Betrand “Now I’ve seen it all,” Earle said. A small, refrigerated seafood transport truck owned by F/V TNT out of
Westport was wedged and partially submerged under Hix
Bridge; the cab was completely under water. It seems the truck’s driver had parked on the asphalt boat ramp to
relax and enjoy the river. He briefly left the vehicle only to find it
started to roll down the ramp. “From what I understand he tried to hold the truck back, but
couldn’t,” Earle said.
The truck, owned by Brian Tripp, drifted out on the incoming tide and
was pulled under the bridge, where it wedged near an abutment. “They somehow got a rope on the back of the truck and with help from
someone pulled it over to the dock,” Earle said. “When I got there they had the truck tied up at the wharf,” Earle
said. Photo/Adam
Betrand Adam Betrand was with the crew from KD Tripp
marine construction that towed the truck out from under the bridge and tied
it to the floating dock. The boat was skippered by Kendal Tripp. KD Tripp marine construction is directly across the river from the Hixbridge landing. Betrand
works for Pyne Tripp, Kendall’s son. Earle with the help of Assistant Harbormaster Gary Tripp and Tom Tripp
got a heavy braided rope around the truck’s box. Brayton’s
Towing provided the muscle and soon had the truck back on dry land. The only injury reported was the driver’s pride. Earle has seen many trucks with attached boat trailers roll down boat
ramps into the water when drivers forgot to set the handbrake, “But nothing
like this!” Photos below/Gary Simmons
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