http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/53222642.html



Motorist gets a lift in Sturgeon Bay

Dustin Fritsch photo

A motorist sits precariously on the Maple-Oregon Bridge in Sturgeon Bay after getting stuck on the bridge as it opened Thursday. The motorist safely went on her way after the bridge was lowered. Police are hoping she’ll call to explain how she managed to get stuck in that position.

By Sharif Durhams of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Aug. 14, 2009
<!--startclickprintexclude--> <!--endclickprintexclude--> Door County authorities are trying to figure out how a motorist ended up near the top of the east arm of the Maple-Oregon Bridge across Sturgeon Bay after the arms of the drawbridge were lifted to a 45-degree angle.
Photographs of a car precariously perched in a downward position were circulating via e-mail Friday while authorities tried to find the woman who was driving the car.
"This car was rising, similar to a ride at Great America," Sturgeon Bay police Capt. Arleigh Porter said.
"Apparently the bridge tender noticed, lowered the bridge and after a short conversation she goes on her way."
The incident happened about 6 p.m. Thursday, but police didn't learn about it until after news reporters began calling to confirm the authenticity of the photos, Porter said.
"At first we thought someone was just playing around with Photoshop," Porter said. "It really is amazing."
"It appears to be human error," Porter said.
Police said they were hoping that the motorist will contact them.
"She's not in any trouble," Porter said. "We just want to talk to her and find out how this happened so we can make sure that it doesn't happen again."
"I want to ask her what was going through her mind and how hard she had that brake pushed down."
- Jesse Garza

 

the !

If I was that retarded my foot would planted on the brake pedal so hard that it would leave an imprint. and I'd have to change my underwear afterwards

 

holy shit, i need those brakes on my car

 

I wonder if she turned the motor off and if the handbrake was applied.

 

woman driver....

 

Thats not that far from me

 

Wow....

Um, I'd buy stock in THAT brake company. But more importantly, will she be doing commercials for Midas Muffler and Brake anytime soon?

 

That is pretty amazing. Good tires and good brakes......

 

Anyone want to bet she was on her cell phone and not realizing the bridge was going up?

 

Who raises a bridge when there's a car on it? She's coming down the back side so wouldn't the operator know there the gates are down and there's a car there?

 

Great force & friction problem for a High School physics class!

 

Maybe she just put it in park?

 

IMO this is more a tire grip situation than braking power. I would assume most brakes would be able to keep wheels from turning on most cars on a 45 degree grade.

 

I'd tend to agree with you. Think about the braking energy required to slow down 2 tons of rolling mass to a stop, this is a piece of cake in comparison.

 

 

, yep all this it is a simple case of geometry (angle) and static friction (tires, brake pads) to figure out the forces..... and of course if she released the brake then it would have becomes a physics lesson in potential versus kinetic energy...

 

she must have shit her pants damn

 

That's great.

I can't believe someone will be retarded enough to do that.

 

Ships are a lot tougher to stop than some retarded realizing that there is a reason that everyone stops when the gates comes down. Maybe she was on her cell phone.

 

wowee

 

 

wow!

 

I'd be crying.

Then again, I'd never be dumb enough to go past the gates on a bridge in the first place. Wow. How stupid are people these days?

 

You know we would all laugh at you.

 

i want tires that grip like that.

 

I would probably deserve it.

 

I wouldn't doubt it. A lot of people (esp. women) are oblivious to their surroundings when talking on cell phones and driving.

 

I'll take some of that action.

 

Ok fixed

 

+1