Motorist Who Drove Off Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnell Identified

VIRGINIA BEACH — A motorist's body was recovered Tuesday from a vehicle that went off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

Virginia Beach police spokesman Adam Bernstein said investigators believe there was only one body in the vehicle, after previous reports indicated there may have been two. The victim was driving in a Toyota Avalon.

The victim was identified as Jean Calcagno, 51, of the 2500 block of Kentucky Derby Drive, Virginia Beach.

Bernstein said that the vehicle was found by a private diving company, which was brought in during the joint search effort that involved bridge tunnel personnel, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Virginia Marine Police, the Virginia Beach police and fire departments, and other agencies.

The body was recovered during the third diving attempt by the private company, Croft Diving Corporation. “They had better equipment than us and were able to perform longer dives,” Bernstein said Tuesday evening.

The bridge was closed to southbound traffic for several hours. It was not clear how far in the water the car had traveled before divers were able to spot it.

Tom Anderson, deputy director for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel said it appeared the car was going at least the speed limit, 55 mph, when the crash occurred and that the vehicle had crossed through guardrail into the water.

Source: www.wtkr.com