A family suddenly found themselves in a Mission: Impossible type situation when the drawbridge they were on began to rise.
The Naphys family were driving across New Jersey's Middle Thorofare Bridge which is a considerable height above deep water, when the operator was 'blinded by the sun' as a fishing vessel was trying to pass through.
With not many options to choose from, driver Terence Naphys decided to put his foot down and see if he could make the gap.
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Credit: SNJ Today
Terence, his wife Jacqueline, their 16-year-old daughter Kaity, and her friend were in the car, terrified at what could happen.
"It's scary what's going through your mind," he told NBC 4. "We could have all landed in the water."
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Jacqueline luckily noticed what was happening while they were on the bridge, alerting her husband to the danger.
"I wasn't nervous until we landed," said Jacquelyn. "That's when we realized the bridge wasn't just a little bit open."
Credit: NBC
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Officials claim that the operator couldn't see the family's Toyota RAV4 properly due to the sun. Plus, the boat's radio wasn't working, so there was no way of talking to those on board.
Credit: NBC
Witnesses say the family soar four-to-six feet through the air to bridge the gap, according to the Courier-Post.
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When they landed the car sustained $10,000 in damages, though no one inside was hurt.
Credit: NBC
"To me, in this day and age it's almost ridiculous that you're depending on a human being to look out a window [and operate the bridge], rather than using technology," Jacqueline said.
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Her husband added: "I will never ever drive that bridge or probably any drawbridge again."
Can't say I blame him, if I'm honest. No one should need to become a stuntman in their spare time because of a simple mistake made by another.
Featured Image Credit: NBC