Multiple cars, including a tractor-trailer, caught fire on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Wednesday morning.
Alexandria Fire Department units assisted Prince George’s County public safety officials in responding to the incident, which occurred on the outer loop of I-495. Officials closed all Woodrow Wilson Bridge lanes at around 11 a.m.
MUTUAL AID | Multiple AFD units assisting Prince George’s County on a major fuel truck fire on the inner loop I-95/495 on Woodrow Wilson Bridge | All lanes blocked pic.twitter.com/D0Kvmw9AOm
— AFD Response (@AFDResponse) June 20, 2018
Maryland State Police reported one fatality in the incident and said others were transported to local hospitals. Public safety officials have, in addition, rescued three workers who were trapped underneath the bridge, according to NBC 4.
Bridge rescue from Woodrow Wilson Bridge today. Via Prince George’s County Police Dept. marine unit pic.twitter.com/TFZeSypMyk
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) June 20, 2018
Maryland State Police said on Twitter that preliminary information indicates a tractor-trailer lost control and struck three highway construction vehicles that were working on the bridge. The accident caused that vehicle and others to catch on fire.
Multiple media outlets report the driver of the tractor-trailer died at the scene. The deceased individual hasn’t been identified at this time.
The inner loop and outer loop local lanes of Woodrow Wilson Bridge reopened shortly after noon. Maryland State Police estimated at 1:51 p.m. that all of the bridge’s northbound lanes would be reopened by 6 p.m.
The accident caused residual traffic throughout the region on Wednesday during the afternoon rush hour. The D.C. Police Traffic Twitter account said shortly before 5 p.m. that traffic heading northbound on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge was backed up from the Fairfax County Parkway exit, which is approximately 12 miles away.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
