Toll bridge reopens; body of victim, truck recovered from Tallapoosa River
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -
The Emerald Mountain Toll Bridge has reopened after search crews recovered the wreckage of a concrete truck from a weekend accident that took the life the truck's driver.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, divers located the wreckage on Monday near the Emerald Mountain Toll Bridge. The body of the driver was found inside the cab of the truck.
ALEA identified the victim as 66-year-old Lonnie Phillips of Shorter.
ALEA dive teams, as well as the Department of Transportation and local agencies, searched the Tallapoosa River for the driver and the concrete truck over the weekend in dangerous conditions. The search resumed Monday morning, and shortly after 3:30 p.m. Sergeant Steve Jarrett with Alabama State Troopers confirmed the recovery phase was underway.
Authorities say Phillips' concrete truck collided with another truck early Saturday morning, forcing Phillips’ vehicle over the embankment of the bridge.
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