High Winds Cause Tractor-Trailer Accident on Virginia Beach Bridge | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Virginia Beach officials closed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on the evening of September 15, 2011, after an 18-wheeler crash that was caused by dangerously high winds. No other vehicles were involved in the commercial truck accident and the truck driver only received minor injuries. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. 

Although police and bridge officials brought in a team to remove the rolled over vehicle from roadway — the accident took place between the North Channel Bridge and the Chesapeake Tunnel nearer to the Eastern Shore — authorities soon decided that moving the empty tractor-trailer in continuing high winds posed a danger to the workers involved in the project. Instead, police closed both sides of the bridge and tunnel for several hours and diverted traffic from the road until the winds had abated and the truck could be removed safely.

The spokesman for the bridge and tunnel reported that winds gusts of 55 to 60 mph were recorded around the time of the Virginia Beach truck accident.