Nurse falls into Monocacy River after stopping to help at accident scene in Frederick County

FREDERICK, Md. - A nurse fell nearly 100 feet into the Monocacy River after she stopped to help victims of an accident on Interstate 70 in Frederick County.

The accident happened around 5 a.m. along a span of westbound Interstate 70 that crosses the river just east of Frederick. A dump truck and a tractor trailer collided on the bridge causing both vehicles to overturn and spill their loads of concrete and asphalt onto the roadway. The collision also caused the tractor trailer to strike the jersey wall and catch fire.

Investigators say 47-year-old Angela Weir, a nurse at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, was traveling in the eastbound lanes of the highway with her husband and witnessed the crash. Their vehicle pulled over and she ran toward the accident - jumping over a jersey wall believing that there was a median on the other side. Instead, she jumped into an open area of the highway bridge and fell approximately 100 feet into the water below.

Weir was pulled from the water by a trooper and was helped by good Samaritan TJ McCardle. She was airlifted to Shock Trauma where she remains in an unknown condition. The driver of the dump truck, identified as 53-year-old Charles H. Williams, and the driver of the tractor trailer, 58-year-old Douglas L. Sexton Jr., were also hospitalized.

Road crews worked through the morning to clear debris from the collision scene. At the time, all but one lane of westbound Interstate 70 remains is open.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing.  It is unknown if charges will be filed.