http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090429/NEWS01/904290320
Falling metal injures kayaker Staff Reports
published April 29, 2009
ARDEN - A kayaker suffered a foot injury after a piece of metal fell from the Long Shoals Road bridge under construction over the French Broad River. Trevor Church, 16, said he was surfing his kayak Monday afternoon in a hole under the bridge when the piece of metal fell, pierced his kayak and cut his foot between his big toe and second toe. The bridge is under construction and Church said construction crews were cheering him on as he kayaked below prior to the accident. Rick Tipton, division construction engineer for the state Department of Transportation, said there are signs warning boaters the bridge is under construction and to stay in the center of the river. Church said he has seen others standing under the bridge in the past. Contractors initially gave the teenager first aid. Church received six stitches and is on crutches. Tennessee-based company, Simpson Construction, is the subcontractor for the bridge portion of the Long Shoals Road project, Tipton said. He said he does not know exactly what caused the piece of metal, which he said was apparently a couple of feet long, to fall. Simpson officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday
Asheville Citizen Times
