Categories: U.S. News

Woman survives after her car was knocked off Chesapeake Bay Bridge

A Friday evening car crash caused a vehicle to be knocked off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and plummet 40 feet into the bay below.

The unidentified 22-year-old female driver of the vehicle survived the fall and was able to swim safely to a nearby jetty where she was rescued and taken to a hospital. She was released Saturday.

The crash happened Friday evening around 8:30 PM, shortly after she got on the bridge going eastbound about a quarter mile away from the shore.

She was struck by a tractor trailer and her car forced off the road and into the bay, some 40 feet below.

Maryland Transport Authority Police believe she was the only occupant in the car.

The woman’s car landed in about six to eight feet of water and was about a quarter-mile from the shore.

She was “very fortunate” as she was able to escape her vehicle and swim to a nearby jetty, according to Anne Arundel county fire department spokesman Steve Thompson.

A boater saw the crash and drove over to wait with the woman until paramedics in a fire department boat arrived to rescue her.

A young woman survived when her car was knocked 40ft off Chesapeake Bay Bridge

When she was rescued, the woman was conscious and able to communicate with officials.

After placing her in a Strokes rescue basket and taken to shore, the victim was then transported by helicopter to the University of Maryland Trauma Center in Baltimore to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

While she was initially admitted in critical condition Friday evening, her condition improved to stable and she was released Saturday night and allowed to return home.

The driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured in the crash, and stayed to answer questions from investigators.

A SUV was also involved in the crash, but there were no other injuries.

The last time a vehicle went off the bridge was in 2008, and the driver of a tractor trailer was killed in the incident.

The eastbound lanes remained closed Friday night while traffic was diverted to the westbound lanes so engineers could inspect the bridge for damage.

The lane closures caused extensive delays eastbound on the bridge Friday night, with traffic backed up for nearly two miles

Engineers signed off on the bridge around 1 AM Saturday when the eastbound lanes were reopened.

After the crash, responders could see the car sunk beneath the water off the side of the bridge.

If wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that the car could be lifted out of the bay by a crew operating a bridge crane.

The Maryland Transport Authority is currently conducting an investigation of the crash.

The William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge – more commonly referred to as the Bay Bridge – has long antagonized local drivers, especially those who use it to get to the Atlantic Coastal resorts in the summer.

In May, the New York Times profiled Alex Robinson who runs Kent Island Express – a business that provides drivers to ferry people across the bridge in their own cars.

Alex Robinson charges $25 each way and says he provides the service to about 5,800 people.

Many aspects of the bridge cause anxiety in drivers, from the first dogleg curve, to the steep incline over the first suspension span. The bridge then drops and propels motorists downhill over the second span. Drivers then have to maneuver through a claustrophobic cantilever that feels like a tunnel.

And that’s just on a nice day. Add bad weather – which their frequently is – and you’ll understand why Travel + Leisure rated the Chesapeake Bay Bridge the ninth scariest bridge in the world.

z9ZcDxXWIG4
Nancy Clayson

Nancy is a young, full of life lady who joined the team shortly after the BelleNews site started to run. She is focused on bringing up to light all the latest news from the technology industry. In her opinion the hi-tech expresses the humanity intellectual level. Nancy is an active person; she enjoys sports and delights herself in doing gardening in her spare time, as well as reading, always searching for new topics for her articles.

Recent Posts

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Celebrate Election Victory at UFC 309

Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…

5 days ago

White House 2024: Donald Trump Wins, Kamala Harris Calls Him to Concede Election

Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Donald Trump Declares Victory as He Addresses Jubilant Supporters in Florida

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…

2 weeks ago

Stocks Soaring as Donald Trump Closes in on US Victory

Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Kamala Harris Cancels Election Night Party as Path to Victory Narrows

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…

2 weeks ago

Quincy Jones Dead at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…

2 weeks ago