Top 10 local stories of 2008
Paul W. Gillespie - The Capital/file
Crews work to repair the eastbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge after an accident sent a tractor trailer over the side killing the driver.

Church Hill

Annapolis
Published December 28, 2008
The downturn in the economy, a fatal accident on the Bay Bridge, violence in Annapolis and immigration raids head the list of the year's top stories.
Capital editors' picks

* No. 1: The economy
* No. 2: Bay Bridge accident
* No. 3: Violence in Annapolis
* No. 4: Immigration raids
* No. 5: Slots pass; Gilchrest ousted
* No. 6: Annapolis Towne Centre opens
* No. 7: Schools meet standards
* No. 8: Crab crisis
* No. 9: Landmarks reopen
* No. 10: Market House

Most read online stories

* No. 1: Driver killed as truck careens off Bay Bridge
* No. 2: Historic wreck on Bay Bridge
* No. 3: Driver says she fell asleep at the wheel
* No. 4: Deceased mid remembered for big smile, love of math
* No. 5: Academy names midshipman who died from meningitis
* No. 6: Herndon Climb, other USNA rituals changing
* No. 7: Teen's body found in bay
* No. 8: Three homes destroyed in 5-alarm blaze
* No. 9: 2 Crofton women die in crash
* No. 10: Ex-academy officer admits to prostitution

No. 2: Bay Bridge accident

A fatal early morning wreck Aug. 10 on the Bay Bridge sent a tractor trailer plunging into the water more than 30 feet below.

The ensuing cleanups and repairs closed at least part of the bridge for more than a day, creating massive 6-hour backups that extended for several miles on each side of the bay. And the investigation into how the truck was able to breach the bridge’s jersey walls found rusting bolts that prompted emergency repairs, creating more delays and backups over the busy Labor Day weekend.

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department investigated the 4 a.m. wreck that claimed the life of 57-year-old John R. Short Sr. of Willards. But after reviewing the police report and other facts of the case, Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil decided last week to file only traffic charges against the driver who detectives believe was responsible for the crash, Candy Lynn Baldwin, 19, of Milligan.

Mr. Kratovil said in a prepared statement that it appeared Ms. Baldwin fell asleep at about 4 a.m. while driving her 1997 Chevy Camaro east across the Bay Bridge.

Two-way traffic was in effect on the eastbound span of the bridge, allowing Ms. Baldwin to drift left, cross the center line and sideswipe Mr. Short’s westbound tractor-trailer.

Police said Mr. Short unsuccessfully tried to avoid hitting Ms. Baldwin’s car on the narrow two-lane bridge — bumping the right Jersey wall of the eastbound span, swerving into the left concrete barrier and ultimately plunging into the Chesapeake Bay.

Mr. Kratovil, who was elected in November to the U.S. Congress, said Ms. Baldwin’s blood-alcohol content was .03 after the wreck. He described that as “well below the legal limit of .07 for impairment and .08 for under the influence.â€