VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. The wife of the driver who died after his bakkie fell off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel remembers him on Tuesday as a wonderful man, father and friend.
According to his wife of 25 years, Megan, Erik Mezick left his home in Fruitland, Maryland, around 10pm on Monday.
The 47-year-old jumped into his Cloverland Greenspring Dairy truck, ready to deliver dairy products to Cape Charles and Virginia Beach. It was a journey of 130 miles, a job he has only had since March, reports WTKR.
On the way back north, the family’s world was turned upside down within seconds.
Mezick was driving north at about 8:20 a.m. Tuesday when his truck overturned on the wagon rail at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and crashed into the bay near Mile Marker 14.
The U.S. Coast Guard said witnesses told them Mezick began drifting westward after climbing out of the cabin or falling into the icy 45-degree bay.
Virginia Beach Fire, Virginia Beach Police and Virginia Beach EMS, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Authority, began searching for Mezick in the water.
The search for air and bay took hours for the man who loved scooters, swimming, collecting and caring for his 94-year-old grandmother.
At dusk, the search for Mezick was suspended after an intense 178-mile scan of the bay by a myriad of authorities.
Mezick is survived by his beloved wife and two children, 18-year-old Dylan and 16-year-old Hannah.
“I can say nothing more than that he was just such an amazing man, father, husband, friend. Anyone who met him loved him from the beginning. He left an impression on so many,” he said. Meghan’s wife, Meghan, told WTKR.
CBBT police are still investigating the incident. Crofton Dive from Portsmouth is trying to recover the truck that Mezick was driving from the bay.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the CBBT are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Mezick during this difficult time,” said Jeff Holland, executive director of the CBBT.
“We want to express our condolences to the family and friends of this individual during this time of tragedy,” said Capt. Samson Stevens, commander of the Coast Guard sector Virginia, said. ‘We would like to thank the local agencies for their initial response for their partnership and commitment to coordinating efforts and searching throughout the day with our crew. ”