ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The westbound span of the Bay Bridge in Maryland has finally reopened after a massive crash involving at least 18 vehicles resulted in a complete closure for six hours. The crash caused a major traffic backup on U.S. Route 50, stretching for miles.
According to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), multiple patients were transported to area hospitals as a result of the crash, but no deaths were reported. However, details about the patients and their conditions were not immediately available.
The crash occurred just before 8 a.m. on the westbound span of the bridge. Hours later, at 11:45 a.m., all westbound lanes remained closed due to the crash. As a result, the eastbound span carried all traffic in both directions for several hours while authorities investigated and worked to clear the wreckage. The MDTA stated that two-way operations were prohibited due to fog and limited visibility.
Despite ongoing efforts by emergency responders to clear the lanes, NewsChopper4 could still see cars involved in the pileup clustered together in the middle of the bridge nearly five hours after the crash. Travelers were warned to expect major delays on and near the bridge, and were urged to delay travel across the bridge.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. The MDTA announced the reopening of the westbound span just after 2:30 p.m., but warned that delays remained in both directions. This is a developing story, with updates expected as more information becomes available.