Ronnie Andrews Killed in Truck Accident in Cape Charles, VA

Cape Charles, VA — February 15, 2026, Ronnie Andrews lost his life due to a truck accident just after 6:30 a.m. along U.S. Highway 13.

According to authorities, 61-year-old Ronnie Andrews was traveling in a southbound 18-wheeler hauling a trailer loaded with chicken on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the vicinity south of Fisherman Island when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the truck was involved in a single-vehicle collision in which it apparently crashed through the guardrail, falling into the water below. Andrews reportedly did not survive the accident.

Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see that an 18-wheeler went through a bridge guardrail and into the water below, the first question I ask is: what caused the truck to leave the roadway in the first place? Bridges don’t forgive mistakes. There’s very little room for error, and once a heavy truck crosses that boundary, the outcome is often severe.

It’s not clear whether the truck drifted out of its lane, made a sudden steering correction, or experienced a mechanical failure. We don’t yet know if weather or roadway conditions played a role. Bridges over open water can be exposed to strong crosswinds, and depending on the truck’s load and weight distribution, wind can significantly affect stability. At this point, it’s unknown whether wind was a factor or whether something else caused the loss of control.

The type of cargo also raises questions about stability. A trailer loaded with poultry can shift if not properly balanced or secured. If the load moved unexpectedly, that could alter the truck’s center of gravity and make it harder to control, especially on a bridge where lanes are narrow and shoulders limited. We don’t yet know whether load shift occurred before the crash or as a result of it.

Engine control module data will be critical in understanding what happened. That data can show speed, braking, throttle input, and in some cases steering activity in the seconds before the truck struck the guardrail. If there was heavy braking or a sudden steering input, that could indicate the driver was reacting to something. If there was no such input, investigators may look more closely at distraction, fatigue, or a sudden mechanical issue.

Mechanical inspection will also matter. Were the steering and braking systems functioning properly? Were the tires in good condition? A tire failure or steering malfunction on a bridge leaves very little opportunity to recover.

Single-vehicle crashes are sometimes viewed as straightforward, but when a commercial truck breaches a guardrail and falls into open water, there are almost always deeper questions that need answers. Those answers will come from data, inspection, and a careful reconstruction of how the truck moved in the moments before it left the roadway.

Key Takeaways

• The central question is what caused the truck to leave its lane on the bridge.
• Wind, load stability, mechanical failure, or driver reaction are all possibilities.
• Engine control module data can clarify speed and driver input before impact.
• Load balance and securement may have influenced stability.
• A full investigation requires mechanical inspection and careful reconstruction.