VIDALIA — The westbound Mississippi River Bridge was closed for several hours Sunday following a single-vehicle accident.

At approximately 4:15 a.m., a pickup truck driven by Michael Van Staggs of Vidalia clipped the bridge rail and then flipped, Vidalia Police Chief Ronnie G. “Tapper” Hendricks said.

The accident tore some rails off of the bridge, and the westbound bridge was closed until the Mississippi Department of Transportation could inspect the crash site, Hendricks said.

Eventually, the westbound bridge was opened to one-lane traffic, and after repairs were made to the damaged rails, the bridge was reopened mid-day, he said.

The driver sustained only minor injuries, and was released after treatment, Hendricks said.

The matter remains under investigation.