A crash at a temporary bridge in Tamaqua involved a state police cruiser.

State police at Frackville said Robert Henry Hinkey, 29, of Iron City, Tenn., was northbound on SR309 and entering Tamaqua about 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, when he encountered a temporary bridge. Hinkey, operating a combination tractor and semi-trailer, misjudged the clearances necessary to negotiate his rig through the curve approaches of the bridge with the wheels of the trailer striking, or nearly striking, the approach walls.

Hinkey stopped his rig and then attempted to back up. In doing so he struck an unmarked state police cruiser, operated by Sgt. John Richards, of Troop L, Reading, who was stopped behind him. The trailer struck the front of the 2003 Ford interceptor vehicle.

No one was injured. There was no damage to the trailer but the cruiser sustained front end damage requiring it to be towed from the scene.

Troopers said Hinkey will be cited for a backing violation. The accident caused a traffic backup. Assisting at the scene were Tamaqua police and fire police.