The eastbound lanes of the Wright Memorial Bridge have reopened, three hours after a four-vehicle pileup Saturday morning.
The wreck happened around 11 a.m. on the three-mile bridge span that brings travelers into Kitty Hawk and onto the Outer Banks. No one was seriously injured.
In photos posted on social media, one pickup was on top of another, with two other cars sustaining collateral damage in what appeared to be a rear-end, chain-reaction wreck.
Authorities originally expected the bridge to reopen by 1 p.m., but lanes were finally reopened just after 2 p.m. Heavy congestion remains.
Some people were out of their cars sunbathing and fishing, and even musical accompaniment, on the bridge to pass the time.
— Sam Walker OBX Today🎙📻📰 (@SamWalkerOBX) July 18, 2020
Current status, Wright Memorial Bridge eastbound. Closed due to earlier crash until at least 1pm. https://t.co/PdPfuvMcJE
— Sam Walker OBX Today🎙📻📰 (@SamWalkerOBX) July 18, 2020
@SamWalkerOBX here the way my son passed the time on the Wright Memorial Bridge today. A little clarinet to calm frustrated and stranded motorist. #OBX Thanks for the updates while we were stranded pic.twitter.com/nAAEtPzfhN
— Bob Norberg (@rjn_e289) July 19, 2020
Dare County EMS personnel and sheriff’s deputies were walking the bridge Saturday afternoon handing out water to stranded motorists.
More from Michael Grimmer, Dare County deputies handing out water to those still waiting on the WMB: pic.twitter.com/kQ1g1ELZC9
— Sam Walker OBX Today🎙📻📰 (@SamWalkerOBX) July 18, 2020
And there was even some musical accompaniment to pass the time.
@SamWalkerOBX here the way my son passed the time on the Wright Memorial Bridge today. A little clarinet to calm frustrated and stranded motorist. #OBX Thanks for the updates while we were stranded pic.twitter.com/nAAEtPzfhN
— Bob Norberg (@rjn_e289) July 19, 2020