Just got this from OC HMRA:
From the Town of OC Emergency Officials:
I just received a call from Buzzy Bayles in OC Emergency Services. A tractor trailer swerved to avoid a car who cut him off and the tractor trailer went over the eastbound Bay Bridge, taking out a small section of the railing. MD Dept of Transportation announced the Eastbound lanes will be closed today. Traffic will be only on the westbound portion of the Bay Bridge; 2 lanes westbound and 1 lane eastbound.
Please alert your guests. You may want to suggest they use Delaware routes to return home. Also, if time permits, please post a message on your marquee. Perhaps you could state:
Eastbound Bay Bridge closed today. Travel DE routes.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
29 comments:
good lord this is crazy, never know when carma will turn the tumblers against you. you gotta live every minute like its your last minute, because one time it will be.
Did it go over completely? Is the driver okay?
Hey Joe,
The MD DOT live traffic cams for the bay bridge are suprizingly off-line??? But the traffic incident tab seems to confirm your post sounds like a mess
Wbaltv.com has the story with video. The driver is dead. A small car cut him off.
I'm a truck driving student getting my CDL and dumb things I've seen cars do when I'm driving the rig makes my blood boil. What makes you think you can take on a tractor-trailer and win?
I have about 12 inches on either side in my lane and some fool straddles the line while passing inches away from my fuel tank. Another drives across rumble strips while passing and zooms into my lane.
If you think I'm going to jerk my steering wheel and turn my truck over you're mistaken. And I care more for your safety than you do.
yep went over one fatal but 3 vehicles involved. pretty messy situation
WBAL website has the story
I have never felt comfortable going over that bridge - ever! I've had drivers cut me off close to the top and i've been blown sideways by the wind going over the iron grate at the very top of that bridge. Something like this was bound to happen! Snow, Ice, and wind prevent me from traveling over it all the time - too bad it was caused by another inattentive driver!
This is terrifying.
People, if you're near a large truck on the road, stay away! There is a reason they leave that much space between them and the car in front of them. How long do you think it takes to slow down 80,000 lbs???
Joe, please tell us what's happened to the truck and its' driver!
Check out the photos on WBAL
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/17148398/detail.html
The truck went completely over and the driver drowned. Two other vehicles were involved and their drivers are in shock trauma.
http://www.nbc4.com/news/17149082/detail.html
Beyond sad. My prayers are with the families of all involved.
1st- there shouldn't be any cutting off. YOU"RE NOT ALLOWED TO PASS ON THE BAY BRIDGE!
2nd- There's just as many stupid ass truckers as there are cars. For a group of people who pride themselves on safety, why do I see them yapping away on cell phones while trying to drive a several ton vehicle? I don't think anyone should talk on cell phones and drive, but especially truck drivers. I know it doesn't take much education to drive a truck, but at least have some common sense.
Incorrect about not being able to pass on the bridge. Passing is allowed on the eastbound span. It's allowed on the westbound span unless the lane signals and signs say no because of two-way traffic.
I know the driver of the truck personally. I work with his wife. In case you all do not know he is a local man from Willards. Him and his wife moved here a few years ago. This is such a tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife.
Anon 9:12, the driver died. I hope they catch the jerk that cut him off and charge him with murder. A car is a potential weapon, not a toy...
Dear Anon 3:22...I hope you will convey the sorrow of many here to the driver's wife. I am sorry for the loss of your friend.
This is a terrible tragedy, and I hope folks will just take a breather on the accusatory stuff to just share in mourning the loss of a human being, and in a way so terrifying.
My only reaction is sorrow, deep, deep sorrow for the loss of this man and my prayers for the injured and the families of all involved.
I may have to retract what I said about passing on the bridge. Green said in an interview the truck was WESTbound. Don't know if he misspoke or whether they had the eastbound span two way to cope with the construction on the westbound span.
Hey 2:45..I have several members of my family who drives truck you inconsiderate MORON and I will bet you yhey are smarter than your dumb ass. We are all mourning for this family, and you are too stupid to mourn with the rest of us.
Enough said...
My prayers go out to the family.
My daughter was going to see the grandparents but just called from Easton and said she is heading back.
At this time (9:00 PM) a 10 mile backup headed West,7 mile backup headed East.
Being married to a truck driver, I hear about this on a daily....people in passenger vehicles playing chicken with trucks on the highways.And remember, if you cannot see the trucks mirrors, the driver cannot see you! My condolences go out to the entire family of this driver.
I got caught up in the traffic about 11 am this morning going to western shore to pick up a pc. of equipment. Traffic was 2mph from Kent Narrows bridge to the toll booths on the other side. Going at a snail pacew I was able to see it was a mountaire trailer in the water. Not sure if it was a company truck or a private hire that part was to deep in the water. It appeared to have taken out a large section of the guard rail but could not see to well for all the emergency vehicles. When I got on 97 north traffic heading east was backed up even further west on 50. I ended up coming home 40 to DE and down rt1. Luckly I was going south because everyone must have took that route north to avoid 50. Traffic was backed up for miles at the toll booth just south of Dover ( unless you had EZ Pass).
RH
The Daily Times might have read the AP story for the identities of the drivers involved.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A spectacular accident in which a tractor-trailer plunged off the Bay Bridge was expected to keep one lane of the bridge closed through Monday afternoon and continue to snarl traffic through the morning rush hour, state officials said.
One lane of the two-lane eastbound span reopened late Sunday, but the Maryland Transportation Authority urged motorists to find alternate routes, warning that major delays were expected.
The accident occurred about 4 a.m. Sunday on the eastbound span of the twin-bridge complex, killing the driver of the tractor trailer and seriously injuring two others involved in the three-vehicle accident.
The tractor-trailer fell about 30 to 40 feet into shallow water, said Maryland Transportation Authority spokesman Jonathan Green, who said he did not know what caused the crash.
The transportation authority identified the driver as John Robert Short, 57, of Willards, and the injured as Candy Baldwin, 19, of Millington, and Trisha Ann Michele Carrigan, 21, of Quincy, Calif. Baldwin was treated at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and released.
Seung Won Hong, 41, of Springfield, Va., and Ho Yoo, 42, of Alexandria, Va., were involved in the accident, but not injured, the authority said.
The scenic four-mile bridges, which peak at about 186 feet, are a major artery to the Delaware and Maryland beaches. The eastbound span opened in 1952 and the parallel structure opened about 20 years later.
Traffic was diverted from the eastbound span to the westbound span, which had been closed for maintenance, causing delays throughout the day that backed up traffic as much as 14 miles.
The 18-wheeler, which was upright with its top visible in about 10 feet of water, had been traveling westbound when the accident occurred.
Mountaire Farms, a poultry processing company based in Selbyville, Del., owns the truck, said company spokesman Roger Marino. He did not know the driver's name or what the truck was hauling.
"It is a tragic loss for the Mountaire family, because it is a close-knit company. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," Marino said. "We will be assisting the authorities as we wait for more information."
Crews also worked to contain a spill from the truck's diesel fuel tank. A crane was at the scene to lift the tractor-trailer from the water.
Vikram Virk of Ocean City, who was driving a U-Haul truck for a friend's move, was stuck in traffic at about noon near exit 24 for Rowe Boulevard. He told The (Baltimore) Sun he didn't know about the crash when he headed east to the bridge.
"It's just a problem and a hassle," he said.
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They have got to lower the speed limit on that damn bridge, and enforce it. 35-40 mph is fast enough, at least it gives you a little more time to make quick decisions. But everybodies in a damn hurry to get to ocean city!!! running 70-75 mph or more!!
This would have never happened if they would not put two way traffic on one bridge. This reminds me of the tripple fatal collision that occured on the west bout side around a year ago.
ANON 2:45
You shouldn't run off at the mouth about the trucker until you know the situation. John Short was a good man and a good driver who will be missed dearly.
MaryAnn
A friend of the Family
It was crazy, I got to see the truck in the water yesterday morning, and then I spent 9 hours getting out of traffic on the way back from Annapolis. It was chaotic; stores ran out of food, people walking the high way to the next exit to find the shelves empty, the state police had a feast giving tickets to everyone driving on the shoulders. CRAZY
always wondered if those railings would hold ya
To all of you that would judge that truck driver you might want to consider the sacrifice he made.
He had a choice, kill or be killed. He opted for the safety of the people in the car traveling in the wrong lane in a hurry to go nowhere fast. God Bless his soul.
Roll on driver.
Being from Willards...
Apparently, yesterday was his last run on the truck. He was supposed to start his desk job today. That truly sucks! God bless his family and may he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who are grieving the loss of a good man.
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