A Guthrie Center teen drove by three sets of warning signs before fatally crashing his truck over the site of a former bridge into Brushy Creek Wednesday night. A pair of signs one-half mile before the crash site on Oak Avenue warn of the road closed ahead and the bridge out. One-tenth of a mile before the crash site is a large construction barrier with reflectors and a road closed sign, along with orange construction mesh. Sheriff Marty Arganbright says 17 year old Zachary Meacham drove through and destroyed a third set of signs including reflectors that existed approximately 100 feet before the creek.

In empathizing with the tragic death of Meacham, Sheriff Arganbright says people can never be too safe when driving a vehicle. “It is a big vehicle that you’re driving around. We talk about speed, watching around for everyone else, and watching signs and intersections. It’s something that you always have to have on your mind when driving, is safety.”

The crash is still under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol. The name and identity of Meacham’s passenger who walked away from the crash has not been made available. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.