On Saturday morning, authorities reported a “serious” multi-vehicle accident on the U.S.-50 Bay Bridge in Maryland, which injured over a dozen individuals.
On the westernmost section of the Chesapeake Bay bridge, the accident happened at about 8 a.m. ET.
Authorities from the Maryland Transportation Authority stated that 23 vehicles were entangled in what they are calling a “chain-reaction crash” on the westbound span.
A slew of “secondary crashes,” according to the police, also involved about 20 automobiles.
According to the authorities, two individuals sustained serious injuries, while thirteen others were sent to nearby hospitals. As of now, doctors do not consider any of the injuries to be life-threatening.
As tow operators worked to clear automobiles, the westbound span of the bridge remained blocked for several hours after the crash. According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, all lanes were reopened by 2 p.m. ET.
US-50 Bay Bridge Westbound; All lanes remain closed for multi-vehicle crash. EB and WB traffic platooning (Alternating turns) on the Eastbound Bridge. Expect major delays. For real time Bay Bridge updates, call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726). #MDTraffic pic.twitter.com/bCKEWFoYKC
— MDTA (@TheMDTA) January 27, 2024
Officials have warned that delays in both directions are likely to persist.
The crashes’ causes are under investigation by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.
If the Maryland Transportation Authority is to be believed, the four-mile length of the bridge’s two spans places it among the world’s longest over-water constructions.
It spans the Chesapeake Bay and links the eastern coast of Maryland to the cities of Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. It is also called the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge.
