(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) Chain Bridge was temporarily closed Friday morning due to a search and rescue operation.
Firefighters from D.C. and Arlington, along with U.S. Park Police, were searching for a fisherman who reportedly fell into the Potomac River and did not resurface.
Numerous emergency responders arrived on scene, looking for the man from the shoreline, the bridge and by boat. (The photo above shows a previous rescue operation in the same general area, in March.)
Inbound traffic on Glebe Road was being diverted onto Chain Bridge Road. As of 9 a.m. the incident was moving from being a rescue operation to a recovery operation, with the reported missing person presumed dead, and as of 9:45 a.m. Chain Bridge was being reopened.
The Washington Post reported late Friday morning that a 67-year-old man had died after falling into the river around 7:40 a.m.
More via social media:
Water rescue Potomac River at Chain Bridge. Witnesses saw fisherman fall from rocks into water and not resurface. #DCsBravest land and water units are searching the area, assisted by @usparkpolicepio eagle helicopter.
— DC Fire and EMS #StayHomeDC (@dcfireems) May 8, 2020
Unified command has been established and crews continue their search. https://t.co/MhFWWbhGFY
— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) May 8, 2020
Update water rescue Chain Bridge. Sadly, we have transitioned from a rescue to a recovery mode after an intensive 75 minute search effort. pic.twitter.com/KtMGEcoLN2
— DC Fire and EMS #StayHomeDC (@dcfireems) May 8, 2020
INCIDENT: Traffic Collision
LOCATION: North Glebe Road and Chain Bridge Road
IMPACT: Chain Bridge will be closed at Glebe Road for a DC Fire Department incident. Traffic is being diverted onto Chain Bridge Road. pic.twitter.com/y4D83KRoNa— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) May 8, 2020
File photo