NEW CASTLE, Del. – On Friday, July 11, 2025 at approximately 3:40 a.m., a Bobtail Tractor traveling on the Delaware Memorial Bridge southbound into Delaware crossed three lanes of traffic, onto the concrete pad near the Delaware anchorage, and crashed into a concrete wall.  The Tractor’s impact collapsed the concrete wall, and the Tractor careened into the Delaware River. The accident occurred on the downslope of the Delaware bound bridge.  No other vehicles were impacted. 

Update #5 – 1:00 p.m. (Saturday, July 12) – Recovery personnel arrived on-site this morning at approximately 6:00 a.m.  Water and tide conditions delayed the recovery effort, which actively began at approximately 9:00 a.m.  Emergency recovery resources and personnel, including a crane and barge repositioned from the active construction site of the Bridge Ship Collision Protection project, coordinated efforts to successfully recover both the Bobtail tractor and a deceased male occupant from the Delaware River at approximately 11:10 a.m.  Delaware State Police Marine dive unit and Holloway Terrace Fire Company were instrumental in this morning’s successful recovery operation.  Emergency personnel used a Hurst tool to extricate the body from the cab and Delaware Medical Examiner has taken possession of the remains. 

The investigation of this accident – including the identification of the victim, cause of the accident, ownership of the truck cab, and other accident-related details – is ongoing at this time.  

Further updates to follow as circumstances warrant
_____________________________________________________________________________

Update #4 – 4:45 p.m. (Friday, July 11) – Search and recovery efforts are set to resume tomorrow, Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.
____________________________________________________________________________

Update #3 – 4:30 p.m. (Friday, July 11) – Due to tide and water conditions in the vicinity of the accident scene, search and recovery efforts of the submerged Bobtail Tractor and any occupant(s) inside the vehicle cab have been suspended for the day.  The driver is presumed dead.  No further information is available on the driver’s identity or if other persons were inside the cab.  

All lanes of the Delaware Bound span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge are now open to traffic.  As a safety measure, a DRBA maintenance attenuator vehicle has been positioned on the concrete pad near the collapsed concrete wall.  

Further updates to follow as circumstances warrant
__________________________________________________________________________

Update 2 – 2:00 p.m. (Friday, July 11):  Still active search and recovery mission.  The DRBA engineering department is coordinating with R.E. Pierson (DMB Ship Collision Protection Project Contractor) to utilize a barge and crane on-site to assist with the recovery of the occupant and the Bobtail Tractor.  All other responding emergency response agencies and their respective personnel remain at the scene.  

DRBA maintenance and marine units in the vicinity of the submerged tractor cab are coordinating to secure the impact area on the bridge and underneath prevent large objects  and other unsafe debris from falling into the river where the recovery efforts are taking place. 

Further updates to follow as circumstances warrant.
____________________________________________________________________________

Update 1 - 10:45 a.m. (Friday, July 11):   The cab has been located in approximately 20 feet of water.  Dive crews are currently assessing the safety of area where the cab is located to investigate further. 

Area search and rescue units are on-scene, including dive teams from New Castle County Emergency Management, State of Delaware Special Operations Dive Team, Delaware State Police Marine Unit / Dive Team, Wilmington Police, Holloway Terrace and Minquadale Fire Companies, DNREC, Wilmington Fire Marine Unit, and US Coast Guard Air and Marine units. 

About the Delaware River and Bay Authority 
The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing.  The DRBA also manages two airports in New Jersey (Millville Executive Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (Wilmington Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All DRBA operating revenues are generated through bridge, ferry and airport facilities.  For more information, visit www.drba.net.