Crews repaired damaged guardrail as traffic was funneled through a limited opening.
CAPE CHARLES, Va. — A Perdue Farms tractor-trailer went off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on Sunday morning, killing the driver and forcing officials to close the southbound span as crews searched the water, cleared debris and began repairs to the damaged guardrail.
The crash was a rare but high-impact incident on the only highway link between Virginia’s Eastern Shore and the Hampton Roads region. Officials said the wreck happened near the North Channel Bridge, just south of Fisherman’s Island, and the truck went over the west side of the southbound span. As the response unfolded, the bridge-tunnel’s own police opened an investigation, while maintenance crews worked around the clock to stabilize the scene and restore traffic flow.
Officials said the wreck occurred about 6:30 a.m. as the tractor-trailer traveled southbound toward Virginia Beach. The truck struck and damaged parts of the roadside barrier, then went overboard into the water. No other vehicles were involved, officials said. The driver was later identified as Ronnie Andrews, 61, of Robersonville, North Carolina. Perdue Farms confirmed his death and said the company was cooperating with investigators. “We are heartbroken to confirm that a Perdue driver died following an accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel,” the company said in a statement, adding that its condolences were with Andrews’ family and co-workers.
The impact left visible damage to the bridge-tunnel’s guardrail and curb, officials said, prompting an extended closure of all southbound lanes while crews assessed what could be safely reopened. The response drew multiple agencies to the water and shoreline. The U.S. Coast Guard and Virginia Beach Marine Police assisted in the search, according to officials. By Sunday evening, officials said Andrews’ body had been recovered, along with the tractor-trailer and trailer. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel officials said the incident remained under investigation by bridge-tunnel police, and they did not immediately release a cause.
Officials said weather did not appear to be a factor. Bridge-tunnel leaders described fair visibility, no rain and relatively light winds at the time of the crash. Jeff Holland, the bridge-tunnel’s executive director, said in a statement that the agency’s staff was grieving with the driver’s loved ones. “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the CBBT are with the family, loved ones and fellow employees of Mr. Andrews during this difficult time,” Holland said. The bridge-tunnel, which carries U.S. 13 across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, is known for strong winds and rapidly changing conditions, but officials said those hazards were not driving this crash based on early information.
Maintenance crews made emergency repairs Sunday and expected work to continue for several days, officials said. The damage required officials to manage traffic carefully as cleanup continued near the crash site. At times, southbound traffic was halted completely; later, officials said a single lane could be alternated around the scene. The bridge-tunnel’s long, exposed stretches and limited shoulders make major incidents especially disruptive, because there are few places for heavy equipment to stage and few routes for drivers to turn around once they enter the facility.
As the day progressed, the scene in the water below the span underscored the crash’s force. Aerial video from regional media showed the truck in the water and cargo floating nearby. The bridge-tunnel’s operations team focused on restoring basic safety protections along the edge of the roadway while investigators documented the vehicle’s path, officials said. Perdue Farms, headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland, operates processing facilities in Virginia’s Eastern Shore region, including in Accomac and Parksley, and the crash drew attention across communities that rely on the bridge-tunnel for daily freight movement.
Officials did not say whether mechanical issues, speed, a medical emergency or roadway factors contributed, and they did not release details about the truck’s load beyond noting it was a Perdue vehicle. Investigators also did not announce a timeline for a final report. Bridge-tunnel officials said the lane restrictions near the crash site could remain in place into the workweek as repairs continued. The bridge-tunnel has its own police department that investigates incidents within the facility, and officials said that team was leading the crash investigation.
The wreck revived memories of other over-the-side crashes at the bridge-tunnel. Officials and past reporting have documented multiple incidents over the decades in which vehicles breached the barrier and entered the water. In June 2023, a tractor-trailer went over the bridge-tunnel and the driver, Christopher A. Scott, 36, of Henrico County, died. Officials said a similar crash also occurred in 2020. Bridge-tunnel leaders did not connect Sunday’s wreck to those incidents, but the latest crash renewed questions among regular travelers about barrier design, heavy-truck operations and how quickly traffic can be restored when a major vehicle goes off the roadway.
By Sunday night, officials said the recovery operation had removed the truck and trailer and that emergency repairs were in place, but they cautioned that more work was ahead. In the meantime, drivers encountered slowdowns and intermittent controls as traffic was funneled past the damaged area. The bridge-tunnel’s operations staff continued to provide updates as maintenance crews planned the next phase of guardrail and curb repairs, officials said.
Author note: Last updated February 16, 2026.