CHESAPEAKE, Va. - Chesapeake firefighters were dispatched to the I-64 High Rise Bridge at 8:42 a.m. Monday morning after officials say a tractor trailer jackknifed in the westbound lanes.
Units with Chesapeake Fire Department were first on the scene and reported the tractor trailer hanging off the side of the bridge with the driver still inside. A Regional Technical Rescue Response was requested, which brought in additional specialty resources from Norfolk Fire-Rescue and the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
Officials say the 2007 Freightliner tractor trailer was traveling in the left lane of I-64 westbound when a large gust of wind pushed the trailer into the other lane, causing driver to lose control and strike side of bridge.
The driver, Wayne B. Boone, was trapped in the cab of the truck, dangling over the Elizabeth River.
The tractor trailer was stabilized with the assistance of heavy equipment from Hudson’s Servicenter and Fink’s Wrecker Service to prevent additional movement. Then, fire officials say a series of complex and advanced rope maneuvers were used to lower a technician over the bridge, harness the driver and lift Boone to a safe position.
Crews completed the high-angle rope rescue 70 feet above the Elizabeth River as severe thunderstorms pushed through the area!
At 9:47 a.m., Boone was transferred to a Chesapeake medic unit and taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will provide updates on the amount of damage done to bridge.
Police say alcohol was not a contributing factor and that Boone was wearing his seat belt at time of the accident.
Virginia State Police are investigating the cause of the accident.
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#Breaking - major #crash on High Rise Bridge/64 in #Chesapeake - tractor trailer involved, reports of the cab hanging off the bridge. WB shut down, EB 1 lane blocked. Use Military HWY instead - #traffic backed up significantly. https://t.co/GTPiCyeeU2 pic.twitter.com/OBFwVBSfvZ
— Ted Noah (@TedNoah) April 13, 2020
