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Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: TheSarge on August 10, 2008, 11:44:47 AM

Title: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: TheSarge on August 10, 2008, 11:44:47 AM
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —  A tractor-trailer crashed Sunday on the eastbound Bay Bridge and plunged into the water, killing the driver, authorities said.

Two other people were seriously injured in the three-vehicle accident, Maryland Transportation Authority spokesman Jonathan Green said. He did not immediately release the identities of those involved in the crash.

The tractor-trailer fell about 30 to 40 feet off the bridge into shallow water about 4 a.m. Sunday, Green said. The 18-wheeler was upright and its top was visible in about 10 feet of water in the Chesapeake Bay.

Green did not know what caused the crash. Authorities shut down the span to investigate and were routing vehicles to a parallel bridge.

"Traffic has potential for backups," said Green, who advised travelers to adjust their schedules or plan alternate routes.

Maryland Transportation Authority Web cameras showed traffic had slowed to a crawl in both directions on the parallel span.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401070,00.html
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: TheSarge on August 10, 2008, 11:46:14 AM
(http://www.foxnews.com/images/root_images/081008_TruckBayTXT.jpg)
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: Lord Undies on August 10, 2008, 11:52:21 AM
Quote
"Traffic has potential for backups," said Green

Ya think?  :banghead:  This is their hired spokesman?

Quote
Maryland Transportation Authority Web cameras showed traffic had slowed to a crawl in both directions on the parallel span.

That is a strange accident, the truck completely leaving the bridge.   
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: DixieBelle on August 10, 2008, 12:29:33 PM
Now THAT is my phobia Undies. A watery death and/or bridge accident is my worst nightmare.
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: Lord Undies on August 10, 2008, 12:34:46 PM
Now THAT is my phobia Undies. A watery death and/or bridge accident is my worst nightmare.

That has been one of my lifelong phobias.  I don't like bridges.  Heights don't bother me.   

Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: DixieBelle on August 10, 2008, 12:35:42 PM
I was fit to be tied when we visited my aunt in Florida for summer vacation. Too many darn bridges there!!
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: Chris_ on August 10, 2008, 01:09:22 PM
The bridge over Pamlico Sound on (I think) Hwy 64 scared the crap out of me.  Its up, up, up for about a mile and a half, and they put a blind curve at the top of the bridge.
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: Crazy Horse on August 10, 2008, 04:38:16 PM
The bridge over Pamlico Sound on (I think) Hwy 64 scared the crap out of me.  Its up, up, up for about a mile and a half, and they put a blind curve at the top of the bridge.

That was the Alligator River or Croatan Sound. Pamlico Sound is about 27 miles wide and currently there are no bridges over her.
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: Scoobie on August 12, 2008, 08:07:06 AM

Red October and I took the kiddies to SandyPoint State Park this past Sunday and got stuck in all that "potential for backups" for almost 2 hours. (shoulda watched the news that morning  :thatsright:). We didn't know what was going on until we were hip deep in snarled traffic.

I'm always nervous going over the Bay Bridge, and have said to myself on a number of occassions that those little jersey walls will NOT keep a car going normal speed from going off the bridge. That is my worst fear ever. I can't even imagine the sheer terror that that truck driver felt when he realized he was headed for water.

I heard on the news this morning that they believe that the driver of one of the cars involved in the accident fell asleep at the wheel and veered in front of the truck causing it to jackknife (at 50 mph) and break through the jersey wall.
Title: Re: One Dead After Tractor-Trailer Plunges Into Chesapeake Bay
Post by: Jim on August 12, 2008, 09:12:54 AM
Quote
"Traffic has potential for backups," said Green

Ya think?  :banghead:  This is their hired spokesman?

Quote
Maryland Transportation Authority Web cameras showed traffic had slowed to a crawl in both directions on the parallel span.

That is a strange accident, the truck completely leaving the bridge.   




Had another one back when I was working for a grocery distributor, one of ours, driver was OK on that one as I recall.  That was some 10-15 years back.  I was surprized it was only 10' of water.