February 1, 2011
I was sitting in my den talking to my daughter and her boyfriend tonight when we heard a copter outside. That’s a rarity around here but a sound she and I are accustomed to after living in L.A. for 19 years. We went outside to see what was going on and saw the Whittier Bridge on I-95 over the Merrimack River in Newburyport – Amesbury, MA, was lined with blue and red lights.
FOX 25 reports:
Police got multiple 911 calls from motorists saying they saw a white Toyota Camry go off the bridge and into the water.
They have spotted skid marks that seem indicate a car went over the rails. According to the State Police, troopers from Newbury Barracks, Marine Unit, Dive Team and the Air Wing all reported to the scene.
With Hines Bridge closed, my daughter and I drove down Rt 110 to Rt 1 and over Green Bridge to try to get a look. Newburyport Police were turning people away from the open side of the Chain Bridge who were trying to get a look.
The Coast Guard’s Station Merrimack River has launched both a 25-foot rescue boat and a 47-foot utility boat. A rescue helicopter has also flown in from Air Station Cape Cod. It’s currenty 8 degrees in Amesbury, just on the other side of the Merrimack River but the water temperature is believed to be about 38-40 degrees. This area of the river is not frozen but it is loaded with ice flows.
There is no word still on how many were in the car and missing or survivors. Local and State Police, Fire Department and Coast Guard are still on the scene.
