March 28, 2011 - Virginia Beach, Va. - The driver of an SUV apparently lost control of the vehicle at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and drove into the water on the morning of March 15, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report.
Jean Calcagno's body was recovered from the wreckage later that day. The 51-year-old had resided in Virginia Beach. Authorities had been searching for the SUV after they heard reports that 2 people were in the vehicle.
The accident occurred near the 8-mile post of the bridge and a helicopter, dive team and boats participated in search and rescue efforts.
Local police have determined that Calcagno was the only occupant of the SUV. Virginia Beach police and Chesapeake Bay Bridge Police are still investigating the accident.
SUVs can lead to serious accidents and injuries because of their high center of gravity, which puts them at risk for rollover accidents. When an SUV rolls over it can go off the road or flip and land on the roof, causing life-threatening injuries to the occupants.
If you have been the victim of an accident in Virginia caused by someone else's negligence, you should consult with an attorney because Virginia is a pure contributory negligence state. Therefore, if you are found to be partially responsible for an accident, you will not be allowed to recover damages.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2009 there were 757 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Virginia.
As a service to the residents of Norfolk and the surrounding areas, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Northern Virginia that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
Common accidents include, but are not limited to:
- single-car accidents;
- hit-and-run accidents;
- accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
- accidents caused by aggressive driving or distracted drivers.
If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.