NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A garbage truck driver has been charged after striking the ceiling of the Downtown Tunnel in Norfolk and gouging tiles Wednesday afternoon, according to Virginia State Police.
Carl O’Neil Hopson Jr. was charged with two counts of disregarding a flagger, reckless driving, over height limits, and driving in the left lane where prohibited.
State Police received a call in reference to a garbage truck being stuck inside the westbound Downtown Tunnel around 3:05 p.m.
State Police say the truck gouged approximately 230 feet of ceiling tiles.
A patroller instructed the garbage truck driver to turn around before proceeding towards the tunnel, but the driver disregarded the orders.
The Virginia Department of Transportation closed the Downtown Tunnel. Crews with Elizabeth River Crossings released air from the tires and attempted to release the hydraulic fuel from the lift arm lines with commercial yard cans, but it failed to work.
Members of Tidewater Express were able to get the bolts of the arms on top of the truck loosened enough to manually lower the arms away from the ceiling.
ERC provided 10 On Your Side with a full timeline of events from the incident, which can be found below:
- 2:59 p.m.: Over-height Detector alarm was indicated. Vehicle failed to stop at Station 3 for inspection.
- 2:59 p.m.: Over-height Detector engaged a full-stop of the I-264 westbound lane. Vehicle was determined to be trash truck with hydraulic lift arms raised.
- 2:59 p.m.: Station 5 patroller tried to get trash truck to turn around. Driver ignored instructions and proceeded through the tunnel.
- 3:01 p.m.: Truck entered westbound Downtown Tunnel and struck the cut and cover section, becoming wedged in the tunnel.
- Between 3-4:56 p.m.: All traffic diverted from Downtown Tunnel. Crews worked to release air from tires and released hydraulic fuel from lift arms to try and move the arms. Tidewater Express’s Road service team got on top of truck to get the bolts on hydraulic arms loosened enough to manually lower arms from the ceiling.
- 4:56 p.m.: Crews started backing trash truck out of tunnel.
- 5:15 p.m.: Trash truck officially cleared from tunnel
- 5:35 p.m.: Westbound Downtown Tunnel fully reopened.
The clip below of traffic detouring to the eastbound lanes was captured shortly before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.