Mac County considers improving bridge safety

Boy Scout gets stuck in pipe on Big Sugar Saturday; escapes unhurt

By JOHN FORD / Daily News Associate Editor

PINEVILLE -- In response to an incident Saturday afternoon on Big Sugar Creek near Pineville, the McDonald County Commission is looking into ways to improve bridge safety.

At about 3:30 p.m., a young Boy Scout canoeing with his troop on Big Sugar was caught in a culvert pipe which runs beneath the bridge of Big Sugar Creek Road near the Craig-O-Lea Resort, located about three miles east of Pineville.

"We got the call that a boy was stuck in the whistle at Craig-O-Lea," said David Beshears, assistant fire chief for the city of Pineville and the city's marshal (a position similar to the chief of police). "There were several people there. By the time we got out there, they had gotten the boy out."

The youth, estimated to be about 12 or 13 years of age, sustained a skinned leg in the incident, but was otherwise unharmed.

"He got stuck in the whistle when he went to carry his canoe over the bridge," said Beshears. "He got out, and the water sucked him right up to the pipe. He was wearing a life jacket and other safety gear. Several of the men and boys were able to get ahold of him and get him out."

Beshears said the scouts were camping at Kozy Kamp, located just off of U.S. 71 at Pineville, and were floating Big Sugar Creek. Canoeists have to "portage," or carry their craft over the bridge at Craig-O-Lea before continuing their float trip.

About five firefighters responded to the call, Beshears said.

On Monday, the McDonald County Commission discussed measures to make spans like Big Sugar Creek Bridge more safe. The commission agreed to place large rocks at the entrances of pipes, saying it would allow water and debris through, but not people.

But Beshears feared the rocks would not work. The assistant fire chief and city marshal said a type of grate known as a cattle panel needs to be installed at bridges like Big Sugar Creek. These panels, Beshears said, would allow water and debris to flow through the pipes, but not allow people to be swept into the pipe.

"They tried a screen type system one time, but it was too fine: all of the debris got hung up in it and the screen washed out," he said.