New Castle: Authorities on Friday located the submerged cab of a tractor-trailer that crashed off the Delaware Memorial Bridge and into the Delaware River, hours after the early morning accident prompted a major search operation.
The crash occurred around 3:40 a.m. on the southbound span of the bridge, when a semi-truck cab without a trailer veered across three lanes of traffic, struck a concrete pad near the Delaware anchorage, and plunged through a barrier into the water below, officials said. No other vehicles were involved, and it is still unclear who or how many were in the vehicle at the time of impact.
“This morning, the tractor was located in approximately 20 feet of water,” a Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA) official said. No update was immediately available on the driver’s condition.
“Wilmington firefighters, members of the New Castle County Dive Team, Delaware State Police Dive Team, and air and marine units from the United States Coast Guard are searching the waters below the Delaware Memorial Bridge for a vehicle that ran off the Delaware bound span early… https://t.co/pmOHWRq3JW pic.twitter.com/DpApHXG4Gx
— NTC Report (@NTC_Report) July 11, 2025
Search and Recovery Efforts Continue
The U.S. Coast Guard, local dive teams, and fire departments from across the region responded to the scene, scouring the river in hopes of locating the vehicle and potential occupants. A helicopter was deployed shortly after sunrise to assist aerial surveillance.
“We have video evidence showing the tractor entering the water,” an official told NBC10. “But we have not yet located the cab,” the source had stated earlier in the morning, before the update from DRBA confirmed the cab’s discovery.
By Friday mid-morning, crews had located the semi cab underwater. Images from the scene showed a damaged guardrail and emergency vehicles blocking the left southbound lane, which remains closed to traffic.
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Investigation Underway
The DRBA is continuing its investigation into the cause of the crash. Authorities have not yet determined whether driver error, speed, mechanical failure, or road conditions played a role.
“At this time, the number of people in the tractor is unknown,” the DRBA reiterated. “No further details are available. Updates will be provided as the situation develops.”
