Dramatic moment US truck driver is rescued from his cab after it was left dangling 70ft over a river when powerful winds forced the vehicle through a bridge barrier

A truck driver has been rescued from his cab after it was left dangling 70ft over a river when strong winds forced the vehicle through a bridge barrier.

Ferocious gusts threw Wayne Boone's empty trailer across the I-64 Highrise Bridge over the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Monday morning.

Boone faced choppy waters rushing below his windshield as the cab of the jackknifed Freightliner truck swayed over the river in 60 mile per hour winds.

Chesapeake firefighters arrived on the scene and after they had secured the truck with ropes, Justin Beazley rappelled from the bridge to rescue Boone, hauling him up to safety in a harness around an hour and half after the crash.

'It all happened so quick. You train for this, but you just never expect it,' Beazley told WTKR.

'We all signed up for it. Anyone in my position would do the exact same thing. This one call of a lifetime just happened to be me this morning.'

Boone praised Beazley's professionalism during the terrifying minutes, saying: 'He encouraged me to keep fighting you know, 'Come on you can do it.'

'It feels good to know there's still people out there who still care.' 

Boone was rushed to Sentara Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. His truck was pulled up onto the road by a crane a few hours later.

Chesapeake Fire Capt. Steve Bradley told the Virginia Pilot: 'The tractor-trailer was first stabilized with the assistance of heavy equipment from Hudson's Servicecenter and Fink's Wrecker service to prevent additional movement and then a series of complex and advanced rope maneuvers were used to lower a technician over the bridge, harness the driver, and lift him to a safe position.'

Alcohol was not involved in the crash, Boone had his seatbelt on and is not facing charges.