HATTERAS, N.C. (AP/WNCT) — Authorities confirmed Saturday afternoon that one of two tornadoes spawned from Tropical Storm Hermine in North Carolina knocked over two trailers and injured people on the Outer Banks early Saturday.
Meanwhile, two main bridges were closed for hours after a Randolph County man died when the Harris Teeter tractor-trailer he was driving overturned — possibly from high winds — on the Alligator River Bridge. And, another tractor-trailer overturned on the Virginia Dare Bridge just before noon on Saturday.
Dare County officials said in a news release that the campground in Hatteras Village was hit just after 1 a.m. Saturday. Four people were taken to a local clinic with minor injuries.
National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Bandy says a tornado warning was issued for the area at the time, and the damage was likely caused by a twister. WAVY-TV had images of the two trailers in the water.
The National Weather Service confirmed just after 5 p.m. Saturday that a tornado caused the damage.
Another tornado hit around 9:20 a.m. Saturday near the town of Straits in Carteret County,causing damage to some trees, the National Weather Service said.
Ferry service to the barrier island remains suspended until seas calm down.
Also on Saturday morning, one person died when a truck overturned on the Alligator River Bridge — likely from high winds.
The Tyrell County 911 Center received a call at 9:55 a.m. Saturday for reports of an overturned truck.
Emergency crews from Tyrell and Dare County responded.
Upon arrival, the driver of the tractor-trailer, Michael York, 64, of Sophia in Randolph County, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials say.
A photo from the scene showed the driver’s side of the truck cab smashed into the concrete bridge railing.
Around noon, the NC Highway Patrol responded to a second overturned tractor-trailer — this time on the Virginia Dare Bridge.
The Highway Patrol is investigating both crashes. NCDOT has closed both bridges but reopened the Alligator River Bridge at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
According to Tyrell County Sheriffs Office and NC Highway Patrol, the bridge tender on the Alligator River Bridge reported a wind gust of 116 mph, which was recorded on the bridge at 6:39 a.m. Saturday morning.
By Associated Press and WNCT staff Published: September 3, 2016, 2:58 pm Updated: September 3, 2016, 9:09 pm
WNCT photo of overturned truck on Alligator River Bridge
