WASHINGTON (DC News Now) – DC Fire and EMS (DCFD) said an accident caused a vehicle to travel over the Arlington Memorial Bridge into the Potomac River while it was snowing Thursday evening.
A DCFD spokesperson told DC News Now that a vehicle crashed through the concrete railing of the bridge and became submerged in the water between DC and Virginia.
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Divers arrived on scene to search for the car and driver.
At least two cars were involved in the accident.
DCFD said one person was pulled from the water just before 7:30 p.m. and taken to shore to receive “advanced life support.”
They were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Two people in the other car that remained on the bridge were slightly injured. Only one of them went to hospital for treatment.
DC police, U.S. Park Police and firefighters from Arlington and Alexandria also responded to the scene.
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During a press conference, DCFD said it took divers about 22 minutes to find the car, extract the driver and get him to shore.
DCFD said they found no other victims during their secondary search around the sunken vehicle.
(Photo courtesy of DC Fire and EMS)
(Photo courtesy of DC Fire and EMS)
Crews will return Friday morning to assess the crash and remove the car from the river.
Drivers should be aware that the Arlington Memorial Bridge is closed and officials said they do not know when it will reopen.
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