The drivers of the second and fifth trucks died. Their identities weren’t released.

The sequence of crashes began when a semi-truck slid broadside as it approached the bridge, dumping its flatbed load of lumber. It came to a stop with the trailer and spilled lumber blocking both eastbound lanes. The driver and passenger escaped unharmed.

A couple of minutes later, the next oncoming tractor with a UPS trailer veered to its left to avoid the first one, Rosenbaum said. It went across the median, cleared the guardrail with the exception of the rear right wheels of the trailer and came to a stop diagonally blocking the westbound lanes.

“The driver ... got out of his vehicle and stood in front of it in the westbound lane,” Rosenbaum said.

The driver of an approaching truck told Rosenbaum he was able to brake and maintain control. But he watched as the driver of the wrecked truck, thinking he would be hit, “bailed to his left over the bridge rail, falling approximately 40 feet to his death,” Rosenbaum reported.