The driver of a tractor trailer died early Sunday morning after three vehicles crashed on the eastbound span of the Bay Bridge. The collision caused the 18-wheeler to plunge into the Chesapeake Bay, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police said.

This is the first time when a vehicle plunged from the bridge in its 56-year history, officials said. Police were forced to close the eastbound span for the day and create a virtual parking lot for miles on both sides of U.S. 50. However, the left lane of the eastbound span was reopened last night, but the right lane isn’t expected to reopen until Monday afternoon.

The other vehicles involved in the crash were a Chevrolet Camaro and a Toyota Prius. Two passengers from the Camaro were rushed to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center by helicopter. They were both in serious condition. The driver, identified by police as Candy Lynn Baldwin, 19, of Millington, is still hospitalized and was in good condition last night. The passenger was released.

The people in the Toyota Prius did not suffer any injury.

Police identified the driver of the tractor trailer as John Robert Short, 57, of Willards, an employee of a poultry processing company. Divers managed to recover his body at about 5:40 a.m.

The crash occurred at about 4 a.m. on the eastbound span. The traffic was being directed while the westbound span was closed for maintenance, authorities said. The collision took place about a quarter-mile from the Kent Island side of the bridge. The tractor trailer hit the jersey wall and plummeted 30 to 40 feet to the water. Police still hasn’t established how the other two vehicles were involved in the crash.

Although police didn’t give details about how the crash happened, the Prius' driver, Seung Won Hong, spoke to reporters from The Sun. The 41-year-old said he was driving behind the Chevrolet Camaro when it collided with the westbound truck. The ring spun out of control and the trailer struck the rear of his car. After hearing a huge bang, Hong said he saw the trailer topple over the jersey wall.