Has anyone driven off the Bay Bridge?

The body of a truck driver whose vehicle plunged off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) last year has finally been found, giving closure to his friends and family. On December 29, 2020, Erik Mezick was driving his dairy truck north on the CBBT near milepost 14.

How many cars have fallen off the Bay Bridge?

15 vehicles
In fact, only 15 vehicles have fallen from the bridge, according to bridge-tunnel spokesman Tom Anderson. Most of those have been tractor-trailers. Only two people have survived the fall, including a trucker who went over the side in January 2016.

What happened to Eric mezick?

Erik Mezick, 47, was heading north on the 17-mile span, driving a 20-foot box truck on a delivery run for Baltimore-based Cloverland Greenspring Dairy. His truck crashed through the guard rail around 8:20 a.m. near milepost 14, about three-quarters of the way across, plummeting into frigid waters.

Has anyone ever died on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

— A judge has dismissed a $6 million lawsuit against the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel for the death of a trucker whose rig went over the side on a blustery day four years ago. He died shortly after his 18-wheeler plunged through the railing into frigid waters near mile marker 15 on Feb. 9, 2017.

How many workers died building the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

No example is more dramatic than worker safety laws: 24 men died building the original bridge; none has perished on the new span. In the 1930s, the rule of thumb in high steel work was one death for every $1 million spent, an inconceivably high toll today. Few dispute the need for safety regulations.

Are they building another Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel?

Photo courtesy of the CBBT. By Stefanie Jackson – Construction continues on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel’s first parallel tunnel, near the Virginia Beach side of the bridge, with projected completion in 2024, approximately two years later than originally estimated.

Was Erik Mezick body found?

Despite a massive search effort, Mezick, 47, of Fruitland, Maryland, was not found. He left behind his wife of 24 years and two children.

How deep is the water under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

The depth of the water ranges from 25 to 100 feet, according to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission. Before the structure was built, 50 to 60 cars at a time would drive up onto ferries, which would carry them across the water, with the Chesapeake Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

How many people have died on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel?

Since the bridge-tunnel opened in 1964, there have been 45 fatal accidents, Brookshire said.

What happened to the truck on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

The truck crashed about 8:20 a.m. on the east side of the bridge’s northbound lanes, according to Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel officials. Fire, police, and EMS units arrived to find the vehicle floating in the water, said Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Richard Trent.

What is the significance of the crash from the Bay Bridge?

The crash from the Bay Bridge is a reminder to motorists of the importance of carrying and keeping a sharp tool, such as a Philips screwdriver or a spring-loaded center punch, in their glove compartment or in the cabin of their vehicle. The tool is a life-saver.

Who is the driver of the truck that hit the bridge?

According to several media outlets, CBBT officials identified the driver of the truck as Erik Mezick, 47, of Fruitland, Maryland.

What happened to the 22-year-old woman who fell off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

When a 22-year-old college student plunged off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Friday night in her car into the water, 40 feet below, she said later to a reporter: “I didn’t want to go out that way.” The driver was able to escape her vehicle, swim to the surface, and to nearby rocks while she awaited rescue by emergency responders.