A truck driver whose truck went over the side of the I-10 bridge into he Pascagoula River has been confirmed dead.
The accident occurred at 6:29 am on Tuesday, June 9. in Mississippi.
According to Earl Etheridge, the Emergency Management Director, the truck was trying to avoid another accident when it went over the side of the bridge and into the water.
First responders were able to save the truck’s passenger from the river; however, they were unable to rescue the driver.
“We were able to rescue the passenger of the 18-wheeler,” said Etheridge. “He suffered minor injuries. He was asleep when the cab of the truck went over the bridge. And, like I said, unfortunately we are having to do a body recovery on the body of the driver.”
A dive team has been brought in to recover the driver’s body.
The identity of the driver and the passenger have not been released.
That's a look at an 18 wheeler that went over the bridge on I-10 West over the Pascagoula River. Rescue crews are on the scene. We're told one person was pulled from the water and that they were trying to get another person out. pic.twitter.com/GBKJkemzln
— Bill Snyder (@BillSnyderWLOX) June 9, 2020
Traffic on I-10 west is still crawling after the accident involving an 18 wheeler that went over the Pascagoula River bridge. pic.twitter.com/YcpDOBX4pt
— Bill Snyder (@BillSnyderWLOX) June 9, 2020