Tractor-trailer overboard at Bay Bridge-Tunnel; 1 dead
A tractor-trailer went over the side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia on Thursday, killing its driver despite an impromptu rescue by the U.S. Navy, officials say.
The driver was identified as 47-year-old Joseph Chen of Greenville, North Carolina, according to Thomas R. Anderson, deputy director of finance and operation for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District. Chen was driving for Evans Transport out of Washington, North Carolina.
Day 2 update: Official says truck driver tried to pass in fatal bridge-tunnel crash
The accident occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, around milepost 15 in the southbound lane, according to Anderson.
Chen was spotted on top of the vehicle's cab and rescued by U.S. Navy helicopter that happened to be flying by, Anderson said.
Chen was hoisted aboard the helicopter, according to Naval Air Force Atlantic Spokesman Mike Maus.
The driver died while being transported to the hospital, Anderson said.
The investigation is ongoing and the truck is still in the bay, said Anderson. It was last reported several miles east of the bridge and submerged.
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The four-lane, 20 mile-long crossing is the only direct route from the Eastern Shore of Virginia to the south Hampton Roads area. It includes two underwater mile-long tunnels.
Traffic traveling across the bridge was affected Thursday from high winds prior to the crash. Thursday morning, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel had issued travel restrictions due to high winds.
According to the facility's website, restrictions become active when winds reach 40 mph. As restriction levels go up, so do limits on what can drive across the bridge.
About 30 minutes after the crash, site officials tweeted out they were under a level 1 restriction, which does not allow "large pick-up campers; camper trailers; house trailers; anything being towed; vehicles with any exterior cargo."
Those same heavy winds prevented Accomack County Public Schools students from returning from an event in Williamsburg on Thursday because buses were not allowed to cross over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
In Maryland, the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial bridge, better known as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, was also under limited wind restrictions. That level of restriction is for wind speeds of 40 to 49 mph or gusts exceeding 40 mph.
While rare, crashes at the Bay Bridge-Tunnel do occur.
In May 2014, a truck drove over the guardrail of the bridge-tunnel. Its driver died.
RELATED: Cause of 2014 fatal bridge-tunnel crash determined
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police officials determined that “driver inattentiveness” caused the May 15, 2014, crash that sent a semi-truck over the guardrail of the bridge-tunnel and into the Chesapeake Bay.
No medical issues were found in the autopsy of driver Daawuud Z. Hakim, 45, of Chesapeake, police said.
In January 2016 another tractor-trailer went over the side of the Bridge-Tunnel.
READ MORE: Va. Shore man ID'd as driver of truck driven off bridge
The accident occurred when Matthew Killmon, 33, of Wachapreague was going too fast while attempting to pass a vehicle while traveling southbound, according to officials.
The accident was not fatal.