CAPE CHARLES, Va. — Officials have suspended the search for a missing driver whose box truck went into the water on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on Tuesday morning.
CBBT officials said the single-vehicle accident involved a two-axle, 6-tire, box truck. The call came in around 8:26 a.m., Virginia Beach dispatch said.
The truck went overboard on the east side of the northbound span between the North Channel Bridge and the northernmost island.
Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the CBBT said the person who was driving the truck was Erik Mezick, 47, of Fruitland, Maryland.
On Wednesday morning, VBFD Battalion Chief Jeff Smith said VBFD, police and Chesapeake police were out now using side scan sonar to search for Mezick.
Wednesday's search was suspended after seven hours. Mezick was not found.
Tuesday's search
Victor Valdez, Virginia Beach Fire Department Acting District Chief, said his crews, EMS, police, and CBBT police are currently conducting searches.
Valdez confirmed Mezick is in the water but they "do not have a visual of the victim."
Emergency first responders are trying to look for possible locations where he may have gone, Valdez said.
Officials said if they didn't find Mezick by nightfall, the search would be suspended, and resume Wednesday morning.
The bridge's guardrail and curb sustained damage. Maintenance crews are responding for emergency repairs.
There have been at least 2 other tractor-trailers that have gone over the bridge-tunnel since 2017.