Canton driver pleads in historic bridge case

WARREN — The young man who drove his company’s box truck through the historic Newton Falls covered bridge July 10, causing $57,000 damage and closing the bridge for six months, has pleaded guilty to an amended charge of having an unsafe vehicle, a minor misdemeanor, and paid fines and court costs of $206.

Ryan M. Vallen, 22, of Canton, was originally charged with hit-skip/failure to stop after an accident and wreckless operation. The hit-skip charge, a first-degree misdemeanor, was dismissed.

The Trumbull County Engineer’s Office said the bridge is marked with a sign indicating that commercial trucks of any kind are prohibited. Vallen drove a donut delivery truck through the bridge at 2:30 a.m. on his way to a nearby store, but the truck was too high and damaged beams and trusses.