Update: Man dies after wreck on Oglethorpe Bridge

A man died Tuesday afternoon after a wreck on Highway 280 that sent his vehicle over the Oglethorpe Bridge on the Phenix City side of the Chattahoochee River.

Thomas Morgan, 50, was pronounced dead at 4:02 p.m. of blunt force trauma to the chest at Midtown Medical Center, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said. His body will be transported to the crime lab in Atlanta for an autopsy.

Morgan, who was assigned at Fort Benning, was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the wreck, which was reported to police around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Police Sgt. Fred Carnes said the green Jeep was headed westbound into Phenix City when it changed lanes to avoid a stalled vehicle. That’s when a white vehicle that was traveling behind the Jeep also changed lanes but rear ended the Jeep, he said.

The impact forced the Jeep off the bridge, and the driver was ejected from the vehicle. Only the driver of the green Jeep was injured, authorities said.

“He fell to the riverbank, and the Jeep landed in the trees,” said Carnes.

The Jeep was suspended 50-60 feet below the bridge and held in the air by trees above the water. It was lowered onto the Alabama riverbank before being pulled on top of the bridge and loaded onto a tow truck.

It was cut out just before noon, with the vehicle landing on a sandy area on the river bank. The wreck caused significant traffic delays for people crossing both sides of the bridge. It was around 1 p.m. that traffic was cleared up.

Police advised motorists to pay attention to the traffic ahead of them at all times.

“Make sure you know what is ahead of you,” Carnes said. “If you change lanes, make sure you have distance before you change lanes. Always wear your seat belt.”

When asked if any citations had been issued, Carnes responded, “That’s still under investigation.”

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Update: Man dies after wreck on Oglethorpe Bridge."