The accident on the eastbound span closed that bridge and traffic was diverted to the westbound span, which had been closed for maintenance.
The transportation authority said one lane of the eastbound span was expected to be reopened Sunday evening, but advised motorists to avoid the bridge, noting traffic was backed up at least 10 miles on each side of the bridge at 2 p.m.
The 18-wheeler, which was upright with its top visible in about 10 feet of water, had been traveling westbound when the accident occurred.
Mountaire Farms, a poultry processing company based in Selbyville, Del., owns the truck, said company spokesman Roger Marino, who said he did not know the driver's name or what the truck was hauling.
"It is a tragic loss for the Mountaire family, because it is a close-knit company. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," Marino said. "We will be assisting the authorities as we wait for more information."
Green said he did not know what caused the crash.
Kellie Boulware of the State Highway Administration advised drivers heading to the Eastern Shore to take other routes.
"It's a slow-moving process, people are getting through, but it's going to be a while," Boulware said.
Crews also worked to contain a spill from the truck's diesel fuel tank. A crane was at the scene to lift the tractor-trailer from the water.
The scenic four-mile bridges, which peak at about 186 feet, are a major artery to the Delaware and Maryland beaches. The eastbound span opened in 1952 and the parallel structure opened about 20 years later.
Vikram Virk of Ocean City, who was driving a U-Haul truck for a friend's move, was stuck in traffic at about noon near exit 24 for Rowe Boulevard. He told The (Baltimore) Sun he didn't know about the crash when he headed east to the bridge.
"It's just a problem and a hassle," he said.
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8pm still at a standstill - 2008-08-10 20:19:50
Got on route 50 at 7pm, at the Bestgate entrance, an hour later and we haven't even made it to the Severn River bridge (about a mile, if that...). People are strolling around on the highway, cars and trucks are turning around and driving the wrong way to get off of the highway, and emergency vehicles can't get through.
This makes me realize how crippled we'd be if the Bay Bridge was ever completely "taken out" or otherwise destroyed. What a major disaster that'd be in more ways than one! I dont even travel the bridge, I live in Arnold, but we all travel the same way...
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s. wilkerson - arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral
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