Tractor trailer goes over on CBBT, driver still not found

Updated 12:00 Friday

Emergency personnel are still searching for the body of the driver of a tractor trailer that crashed off the bridge roughly one mile into the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Thursday afternoon.

According to Coast Guard Petit Officer Mikaela McGee, the Coast Guard is still assisting the search by sea and air. A private firm has been contracted to use a crane to recover the truck and trailer. The body of the driver of the vehicle has not been recovered yet.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, a single vehicle accident occurred around 1:50 pm at mile post 1 on the northbound side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The vehicle involved is a tractor-trailer. The truck has gone overboard on the west-side of the northbound span between Virginia Beach and the southernmost island.

The facility has sustained guardrail and curb damage. CBBT Maintenance crews made emergency repairs to the damaged section.

Multiple agencies are searching including Coast Guard Station Little Creek, Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish, Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, Virginia Beach Police, Virginia Beach Fire Department, Virginia Beach EMS, and Virginia Marine Resource Commission.

“This is a concentrated joint search effort consisting of multiple rescue crews, search aircraft, and boats,” said Chief Warrant Officer Dan Butierries, Coast Guard Sector Virginia search and rescue mission coordinator. “We are committed to searching by land and sea throughout the night and into the morning,” he said.

According to Windy.com’s wind radar, the current winds on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel are 9 knots out of the east. There were no wind restrictions at the time of the crash.