The driver of a tractor-trailer that went over the side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel has died, officials say.
Tom Anderson, a spokesperson for the CBBT, said that just before 12:30 p.m., the tractor-trailer was reported to have gone off of the southbound bridge near mile marker 15.
A U.S. Navy helicopter rescued the man from the water. The man was unresponsive and died on the way to the hospital, Anderson said.
The bridge was operating at a level-1 wind restriction at the time of the accident, but has since been upgraded to a level-2 wind restriction.
A level-1 wind restriction bars large pick-up campers, house trailers and tow vehicles from traveling across the bridge, with speeds of 40 mph.
A level-2 wind restriction bars tractor-trailers weighing in with less than a 30,000 pound payload from crossing the bridge, with wind speeds above 47 mph.
All lanes were closed for nearly two hours, but travel lanes going in both directions have since been reopened.
CBBT is currently closed to all traffic due to an incident. We strive to make this interruption to travelers as brief as possible. #Alert
— CBBT (@FollowTheGulls) February 9, 2017
Section closest to ES, base of north channel bridge
