First Alert Traffic

Deadly crash closes Platt Bridge, which connects South Philadelphia with airport

Drivers were forced to use I-95's Girard Point Bridge early on Oct. 21, 2024, due to the deadly wreck on the Platt Bridge

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A driver died as a car careened over the barrier separating both directions on a busy bridge people use to get to and from Philadelphia International Airport Monday morning.

The driver of a BMW X4 going eastbound on the Platt Bridge in Southwest Philadelphia just after 2 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2024, "lost control of the vehicle and flipped over into the westbound lanes, making contact with 2014 black Toyota Camry," Philadelphia police said in a news release.

"The BMW X4 then continued in the westbound lanes, making contact with the front of 2018 silver Nissan Murano," police added.

Medics pronounced the man driving the Toyota dead at the scene, investigators said.

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The 49-year-old BMW driver was hospitalized in critical condition, while the 31-year-old Nissan driver was being treated in stable condition at an area hospital.

More than five hours later the bridge remained closed, with police blocking Penrose Avenue near the entrance to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Drivers hoping to get to the airport should use the Girard Point Bridge (Interstate 95) instead.

The bridge finally reopened in both directions around 7:30 a.m. Monday after all the cars were towed away and accident investigators combed over the scene.

The investigation into the deadly crash continued Monday.

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