Work van hits historic Robert Parker Coffin Bridge in Long Grove; at least 72nd time bridge has been struck

The historic Robert Parker Coffin Bridge in Long Grove was hit by a work van on Wednesday, marking at least the 72nd time the bridge has been struck in recent years.

The incident happened around 12:07 p.m. on Wednesday and was caught on surveillance video.

The video, captured by Neumann’s Cigars and More, showed the hit, which involved a white work van that had ladders on its roof.

The vehicle was traveling westbound on Robert Parker Coffin Road approaching Schaeffer Road when it occurred.

The ladders apparently scraped the bridge canopy and the driver of the van stopped the vehicle under the bridge and got out after it occurred.

It was at least the 72nd time the bridge has been struck since 2018.

Neumann’s Cigars and More told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the vehicle was briefly stuck but the driver took the ladders off the top of the van and was able to leave the scene.

The last bridge strike occurred on February 4 when a large box truck with the name of GreenGrids solar company was photographed by witnesses trapped under the bridge after the top of the vehicle struck the bridge’s canopy struts.

Workers were photographed letting the air out of the tires in an effort to move the vehicle out from underneath.

Two Lake County sheriff’s vehicles blocked the roadway while the Chevrolet truck rested under the bridge with damage to the top of the vehicle.

A bus carrying persons with disabilities struck the bridge on November 14, marking at least the 70th time the bridge had been hit.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Long Grove Fire Protection District were called to the scene after a 911 caller reported the bus carrying special needs students had struck the bridge.

No one was injured in the incident, authorities said at the time.

The 69th hit came after a white pickup truck pulling a large trailer struck the bridge and left the scene on October 9.

The bridge was also previously hit in June when a box truck’s roof struck the bridge canopy.

The damage to the roof of the vehicle was clearly noticeable during that incident, witnesses said.

The bridge was hit on May 20 when a box truck belonging to Northwest Trucks Inc. in Palatine attempted to drive onto the bridge, at which point it abruptly struck the bridge canopy.

The truck became wedged under the bridge canopy and the driver attempted to reverse out.

A deputy in a Lake County sheriff’s squad car that arrived on scene with its lights activated used his intercom to tell the driver, “Stop, it’s not moving.”

The driver initially attempted to lower the air pressure in the tires but it was unsuccessful and a tow truck was called to remove the truck.

The bridge was blocked for approximately three hours during the May 20 incident.

Before that, a white Toys for Tots box truck struck the bridge in December 2024 but did not get stuck and was able to reverse.

A small truck carrying an oversized, vertically stacked load struck the top girders of the bridge on October 30, 2024.

Surveillance video showed the truck’s oversized load hitting the top of the bridge before stopping and immediately reversing to free itself.

“There are numerous signs informing drivers of the height restriction and signs prohibiting trucks and buses from using the bridge,” Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli has said previously.

The bridge, formerly known as the Long Grove Covered Bridge, was renamed in September 2022 to the Robert Parker Coffin Bridge after Robert Parker Coffin, who designed the bridge cover.

The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.