Firefighters in North Carolina say that a truck driver survived a serious fall from an interstate bridge this morning.
The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19, in Rowan County, North Carolina.
@millersferry & @SalisburyNCFire are on scene of a rescue assignment to retrieve a subject who has jumped from the Yadkin River Bridge, @NCDOT_I85 NB near MM 82, Salisbury. The subject landed in the dirt part of the riverbank and can’t move. #RowanNCFire
— Rowan County CFP387 (@CFP387) February 19, 2020
The incident reportedly began when a car driver hydroplaned into the side of the northbound I-85 bridge over the Yadkin River.
Two truck drivers stopped to assist the motorist.
According to a report from WBTV, the truck drivers saw another semi truck heading towards them and one of them jumped over the side of the bridge to escape, falling about 75 feet to the river bed sand bar below.
The truck driver may have believed that there was a concrete median over the side of the bridge.
The truck driver survived the fall.
Multiple fire crews and rescue agencies were called in for the complex recovery. Rescuers rappelled down the bridge to recover the injured driver.
Firefighters say that the truck driver was conscious during the 45 minute rescue and that he is now listed in serious condition. He was taken to a nearby hospital.
No other injuries were reported.
This is a developing story.
Delayed: 2:34am 2/19- SFD assisted @millersferry, @RowanCountyES EMS & Rescue Squad with a rescue assignment NB I-85, Yadkin River bridge. Crews extricated a patient 75′ from the river bed sandbar. Extrication time was 45 minutes, patient transferred conscious w/ serious injuries pic.twitter.com/mEA8y5XxBW
— Salisbury NC Fire (@SalisburyNCFire) February 19, 2020