Stalled car, wreck backed up traffic on causeway

Sam Walker | June 28, 2012

Engine trouble in one car led to a four-vehicle pile-up Wednesday afternoon at the top of the Washington Baum Bridge between Nags Head and Manteo.

Sgt. J.C. Wilson of the N.C. State Highway Patrol said the crash started around 5 p.m. after a car traveling westbound came to a stop in the right lane near the peak of the navigation span.

Two vehicles stopped behind the car, but a third slammed into the rear vehicle, causing an accordion effect, according to Wilson.

No serious injuries were reported, although one woman was transported by Dare EMS to The Outer Banks Hospital for evaluation and was released a short time later, Wilson said.

James Raskin of Southern Shores was cited by the Highway Patrol for failure to reduce speed to avoid colliding with another vehicle.

Wilson said no additional factors, other than inattentiveness, were to blame in the collision.

Damage to the two pick-ups, an SUV, and a sedan is estimated at over $30,000, with the car considered a total loss.

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See what people are saying:

Sarah says:

This wreck caused my typical 30 minute drive from Kitty Hawk to Manteo, to 1 hour. And there was no sign at this point, around 5:45 when I was in front of the outlets, as to why there was so much backed up traffic. Frustrated car driver! Glad everyone was okay.

on June 28, 2012 @ 6:29 pm

It Figures says:

Maybe this should get the powers that be to consider another route between Manteo and the beach. Unless you take a ride through 64 to Creswell, then pass by Edenton on 94 and 17 to Elizabeth City to get around, there really is no other route!

on June 28, 2012 @ 9:03 pm

Tired of speeders says:

For years the Town of Manteo had tried to get the limit from the Dare Bridge across the causway dropped to 50 so people would observe one limit. “That would make people late,” observed the Dare Commissioners. BAH!

on June 29, 2012 @ 8:14 am

Katie says:

This has nothing to do with speeders. I’m tired of that being the excuse for every accident that happens in this dang county. It’s called PAY ATTENTION! I’ve seen more wrecks because of the speed decrease…but thats not the issue here. Someone DID NOT PAY ATTENTION to STOPPED TRAFFIC, which in turn CAUSED an ACCIDENT!

on June 29, 2012 @ 10:09 am

hmmm... says:

Thank you Katie… Took the words right out of my mouth. If people would pay more attention to the traffic in front of them than their cellphones or even taking pictures going across the bridge there would be less accidents. I have gotten behind several vehicles going extremely slow without hazard lights on because they wanted to take pictures…

on June 29, 2012 @ 1:29 pm

Rick says:

Texting, using a cell phone, programing a GPS, lighting a smoke. Take your pick, any of them can distract a driver.

on June 29, 2012 @ 9:24 pm

Mark Williamson says:

Hey, Not my fault! No one takes responsibility any more. Pay attention people, it is called defensive driving!

on June 30, 2012 @ 8:41 am

Katie says:

on June 30, 2012 @ 9:05 am

Ottoman says:

Someone has “car trouble” at the top of the bridge….yes drive defensively but come on, I’m sure you would get a ticket for making a U turn on the bridge why not “having car trouble” so I can take a picture?

on June 30, 2012 @ 3:59 pm

oh wow says:

How many bridges do people think we NEED, really? It is inconvenient that there is only one feasible route from Manteo, but that is what happens WHEN YOU LIVE ON AN ISLAND. It’s just a fact of life that we locals will have to deal with, as well as the tourists.

on July 1, 2012 @ 10:27 am

Pj says:

Several witnesses have stated that the last two cars could not avoid the accident that was already happening. The other option was heading into oncoming traffic or over the wall. Unfortunate event, for all.

on July 1, 2012 @ 1:45 pm

Sharon says:

When I was growing up in Virginia, there was a huge defensive driving ad campaign called “Watch Out for the Other Guy.” It was great advice.

on July 2, 2012 @ 11:03 am

Sue says:

Crashing into a stopped car in the middle of the bridge on the OTHER side of the peak, I can understand. You wouldn’t see that. But crashing into cars already stopped and visible? Come on, that’s just inattentive driving.

on July 2, 2012 @ 3:35 pm

Mike says:

I actually passed this car right before the accident. It was on the west bound lane, on the rise of the bridge. Not at all out of site for anyone – I saw it with 4 screaming kids in the back of the car. It was an old truck that indeed looked broken down, not taking pictures.

on October 30, 2012 @ 12:04 pm

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