Update: I-20 Eastbound reopens following 18-wheeler crashing into Augusta Canal

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
·1 min read
Chancey's Towing Service and Wayne's Towing work to remove an 18-wheeler on December 27, 2021, that had crashed into the Augusta Canal from the I-20 bridge the previous night.
Chancey's Towing Service and Wayne's Towing work to remove an 18-wheeler on December 27, 2021, that had crashed into the Augusta Canal from the I-20 bridge the previous night.

Both of I-20's eastbound lanes were reopened on Tuesday afternoon after being closed due to an 18-wheeler truck's crash into the Augusta Canal on Monday.

Richmond County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division at approximately 5:30 p.m., according to GSP spokesman Franka Young. The truck was traveling eastbound towards South Carolina when it went off the roadway, through the guardrail of the Augusta Canal bridge, hit the bridge and crashed into the canal.

An 18-wheeler truck became submerged in the Augusta Canal after driving off the I-20 bridge on December 27, 2021.
An 18-wheeler truck became submerged in the Augusta Canal after driving off the I-20 bridge on December 27, 2021.

Augusta Fire & EMA tweeted at 10:12 p.m. that the driver of the truck was able to make it out on their own and he was transported to a hospital. Richmond County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Caleb Lee said this was a single vehicle accident; however, Young said debris from the crash struck another vehicle. Only minor injuries have been reported.

Chancey's Towing Service and Wayne's Towing work to remove an 18-wheeler on December 27, 2021, that had crashed into the Augusta Canal from the I-20 bridge the previous night.
Chancey's Towing Service and Wayne's Towing work to remove an 18-wheeler on December 27, 2021, that had crashed into the Augusta Canal from the I-20 bridge the previous night.

Lee said Monday night that the bridge had possibly sustained some damage, requiring I-20's eastbound lanes to be closed for several hours, diverting traffic to Riverwatch Parkway and causing significant back-ups. Eastbound drivers were crossing the bridge in the left lane by late this morning, and Young's preliminary report at 3:36 p.m. said both lanes were open and the crash scene had been cleared.

No information on what caused the accident or what, if any, damage the bridge sustained has been released as of Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: I-20 E closed at Augusta Canal after semitruck crashes over bridge