A vehicle ran off the Arlington Memorial Bridge and into the Potomac River.
A two-vehicle crash shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday caused a pickup truck to smash through the side of the bridge and into the river around mid-span.
Rescuers used boats to access the area where the vehicle entered the icy water. Earlier, the U.S. Park Police helicopter scanned the area but did not find anything, according to scanner traffic.
Divers pulled one person from the submerged vehicle and brought them to shore along Rock Creek Parkway by fireboats, according to DC Fire and EMS. Initial reports suggest the victim, a man, was found unresponsive after about an hour underwater. One person in the second vehicle was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the fire department.
No additional victims were found in the water in the immediate aftermath of the crash. The person pulled from the submerged vehicle was “transported critical life threatening condition,” DC Fire said via social media.
The bridge reopened early Friday after closing for an investigation, according to USPP. Park Police confirmed Friday that the driver has died.
Later, a second victim was found dead in the water. The two were brothers from Maryland, news outlets reported.
Dashcam video obtained by NBC 4 appears to show a white pickup truck traveling from Arlington to D.C. rear-ending a car, losing control and veering across all lanes of the bridge before smashing into the side and plunging into the water.
In 2022 a pickup truck nearly ran off the Virginia side of the bridge, damaging the granite columns that line it.
Update vehicle into water Arlington Memorial Bridge. 1 individual from submerged vehicle brought to shore & receiving advanced life support. 2nd vehicle involved on bridge & 2 patients transported with minor injuries. Joint effort with @DCPoliceDept Harbor Unit &… pic.twitter.com/KhdLQCx4t3
— DC Fire and EMS Department (@dcfireems) January 17, 2025
Traffic alert: Arlington Memorial Bridge closed for crash investigation. https://t.co/JAiqjojwrW
— USPPNEWS (@usparkpolicepio) January 17, 2025
Several cars just went over the bridge into the water in Washington DC pic.twitter.com/cehXe4Q2oU
— Phil Salesses (@PhilSalesses) January 17, 2025
TRUCK INTO POTOMAC?— Outbound Arlington Memorial Bridge. Witness reports seeing a white pick-up truck that went over the railing. There is damage to the railing but no truck is visible in the water/ice. Search in progress. #DCTraffic #VATraffic @ARLnowDOTcom @HelicoptersofDC pic.twitter.com/ISt2w8lKJK
— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) January 17, 2025
