Video Captures Dramatic Rescue Of Workers On Wilson Bridge

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Helicopter footage captured a dramatic rescue during the fatal crash and car fires on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Wednesday.

Multiple vehicle fires ensued after a tractor trailer hit several construction trucks around 11 a.m. A boom truck carrying three construction workers on a crane beneath the bridge was hit, leaving the workers stranded under the bridge.

The Fairfax County Police helicopter responding to the captured showed three workers being rescued by Virginia and Maryland first responders on boats. According to Prince George's County, Md. Police, a police boat had been on the river when the explosion happened on the bridge and were able to quickly help the construction workers. At one point the video shows a worker hanging in mid air as first responders lowered him down.

Four jurisdictions—the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, DC and Prince George's County, Md.—as well as state police and around 100 police and fire personnel responded, WTOP reported. Heavy smoke billowing from the crash temporarily closed the inner loop of the Beltway, but outer loop thru lanes over the bridge remained closed into the evening.

The tractor-trailer driver died in the crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Watch the rescue video below.

Screenshot via Fairfax County Police video