Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge has reopened after a series of crashes involving more than a dozen vehicles jammed traffic for about six hours Saturday.
It appears that 23 vehicles were involved in a “chain-reaction crash on the westbound span,” a news release from the Maryland Transportation Authority, or MDTA, said. However, investigators said some 20 additional vehicles were involved in a series of secondary crashes.
Thirteen people were taken to the hospital, including two with serious injuries. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening, the MDTA said.
The first crash happened around 7:45 a.m. on the westbound span of the bridge.
Fire department officials from Anne Arundel County told WTOP that their units transported 12 patients to area hospitals, including two to Shock Trauma in Baltimore.
Investigation into the cause of the crashes is ongoing and anyone with information should call MDTA police at 443-454-8703.
Nearly 6-hour closure leads to hourslong delays for drivers on the bridge
After approximately six hours, the westbound span reopened just before 2 p.m.
During closure, officials set up an alternating, two-way traffic pattern along the bridge’s eastbound span to ease the delays.
The WB span remains CLOSED. Diversions on WB US-50 remain. The EB span will carry alternating, two-way travel every 20-30 minutes. Stay tuned for updates on the 8s. #EasternShore #MdTraffic #DCTraffic #Annapolis (curently WB)
LISTEN LIVE • https://t.co/Trjju7JGr5
Tune to 103.5… https://t.co/JrvOkOjI7D— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) January 27, 2024
The cause of the crashes is still being investigated. WTOP’s Traffic Center received listener calls about thick fog over the bridge around 7 a.m., shortly before the crashes were reported. Observations at Bay Bridge Field on Kent Island indicated that visibilities had dropped below 800 feet at the time of the crash, according to WTOP Traffic Reporter Dave Dildine.
The National Weather Service issued multiple special marine weather statements warning of dense fog at the Chesapeake Bay prior to the crash.
Listener calls to reiterate the dense #Fog on the Bay Bridge. Be sure to have extra stopping distance and low beams. #MdTraffic #EasternShore #Annapolis #DCTraffic
LISTEN LIVE • https://t.co/Trjju7JGr5
Tune to 103.5 • 107.7 • 103.9 pic.twitter.com/8FjhcfnQ3P— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) January 27, 2024
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