News
Tractor-trailer driver who went off CBBT identified as 36-year-old Henrico man
A joint search effort involving the United States Coast Guard is underway for one person following Thursday's crash on the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel in which a tractor-trailer went into the water.
The crash happened around 1:50 p.m. at the 1 milepost in the northbound lanes, according to CBBT officials. The Coast Guard said it was notified around 2 p.m., and that one person was inside the tractor-trailer.
CBBT maintenance crews worked to make emergency repairs to the bridge which had damage to the guardrail and the curb. All northbound lanes reopened later Thursday night.
Joseph Sanabria told News 3's Jay Greene he was on his way home from work when he saw all the flashing lights. That's when the traffic started slowing down. Sanabria eventually got out of his car and started filming the scene, something he said he's never seen before.
"Being here 25 years, I'm thinking, maybe twice, I've heard of it, seen it on the news, but never driving home, pulling over and seeing it first hand," Sanabria said.
He called the whole thing "gut-wrenching."
"I'm almost 60, and there are some things in life you just don't want to see because you know you'll never get over, and these are one of those things," he said.
He said while the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel offers breathtaking views during the day and the night, "pay attention to the road."
The Coast Guard said multiple agencies are involved in the search for the missing person 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.
On Thursday, the Virginia Beach Police Department told News 3 a "Good Samaritan" jumped into the water to help the driver of the tractor-trailer, however, Tom Anderson, a spokesperson for the CBBT, disputed that claim. On Friday, VBPD confirmed that the information about a person diving into the water was incorrect.
The Coast Guard said it plans to recover the tractor-trailer on Friday.
CBBT police are still investigating what led up to the crash.
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