Open drawbridge a jolting surprise for West Deptford family

Lots of people enjoy thrill rides during Jersey Shore vacations, but a West Deptford family took that experience to new – and unwanted – heights earlier this month.

They drove across a drawbridge as it opened beneath them – going up, up, up and then jumping across a gap to return to the roadway.

Yes, it’s the Dukes of Hazzard Experience, courtesy of the Cape May County Bridge Commission.

“It was a lovely last night of vacation,” said Jacquelyn Naphys, showing her sense of sarcasm survived the rough landing on the Middle Thorofare Bridge between Wildwood Crest and Cape May.

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According to Lower Township police, a bridge operator caused the accident when he opened the Ocean Drive span for a commercial fishing vessel around 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 1.

“His explanation was, ‘It was sun glare,’” said Naphys, who was riding with her husband, Terence; their 16-year-old daughter Kaity; and a 16-year-old friend.

“He looked out and didn’t see us."

“To me, in this day and age it’s almost ridiculous that you’re depending on a human being to look out a window, rather than using technology,” she continued.

But enough about the safety of the motoring public, especially since the bridge commission did not return the call. I want to know what it’s like to leap across a drawbridge.

“The amazing thing is you do not feel a thing,” said Naphys, describing the take-off portion of their unplanned flight.

In an account Thursday, police said a steel grate lifted the southbound vehicle as the bridge opened.

“It wasn’t until we were at the very edge when I saw the bridge might be opening,” said Naphys, a Philadelphia school teacher who also serves on Deptford’s board of education.

She shouted a warning to her husband and he hit the gas on their Toyota RAV4. That allowed the SUV to reach the roadway on the other side of a widening gap.

“I wasn’t nervous until we landed," said Naphys, who had been looking forward to a night of shopping and dining in Cape May. "That’s when we realized the bridge wasn’t just a little bit open.”

A woman who saw the accident in her rear-view mirror described the scene to the family.

“She said we fell 4 to 6 feet,” said Naphys. “I’m kind of glad we didn’t know.”

A driver behind the family “parked and started screaming because he thought we were in the water,” she added.

The SUV's occupants reported no immediate injuries, but Naphys said, "We're still being evaluated."

And despite an estimated $10,000 in damage to its undercarriage, the SUV was still drivable.

So, the family headed to an area hospital for X-rays, then grabbed a meal before returning to their North Wildwood vacation home.

This time, though, they took a different route via the Garden State Parkway.

“I wasn’t driving back over that bridge,” declared Naphys. “I won’t be crossing that for some time.”

Jim Walsh's column runs in print Fridays. Reach him at jwalsh@gannettnj.com or (856) 486-2646.