METAIRIE – The southbound span of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway has been reopened after a truck went over the railing and plunged into the lake earlier this morning.
Crews removed the red utility truck from the lake around 10 a.m., but the body of the driver was not inside.
The driver’s side and rear window of the truck were shattered on impact.
The search and rescue operation is still in effect, and has not yet switched to recovery mode, according to Causeway officials.
The southbound span has been closed since early this morning, shortly after the truck went over the side, but it should reopen by 11 a.m.
According to Causeway Police, the search was activated when it was reported that approximately 1/2 a mile of guard rail was missing on the southbound lane of the bridge and debris could bee seen on the road and in the water.
As of 3:45 a.m., crews were on the scene and actively searching for a possible vehicle in the water.
According to witnesses, a pickup truck crashed into the lake around mile marker 11.
Stay tuned to WGNO for more information.