![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ftMqG_0uAM7fGS00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3ftMqG_0uAM7fGS00)
A man from Orlando was killed Monday morning when he struck another car during a lane change on the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel and spun out before going over the wall into the water, according to Virginia State Police.
Divers from Suffolk and Newport News teamed up Monday afternoon to recover the submerged vehicle — a Chevy Traverse — and its occupant, a 55-year-old man. He's since been identified by police as Daniel Irizarry. Police say he was from both Orlando and Hampton.
There were no other people in the Traverse at the time of the incident, state police said.
Watch: Suffolk battalion chief discusses recovery efforts
Suffolk battalion chief interview on MMMBT crash
The car was recovered by divers between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m., fire officials told News 3. Divers had tried to get the car out of the water earlier, but weather conditions — including wind and the current — made it difficult.
The crash happened around 7 a.m. on I-664 southbound, state police say.
During the crash response, Suffolk Fire & Rescue had firefighters and trucks on the bridge and a boat in the water. Multiple other state and local agencies also had resources there.
“A call like this, we rely on regionalism," said Suffolk Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Nicholas Savage, the incident commander for the department during its response to the crash.
“A lot of our success is because of pre-incident training," Savage continued to say. "Newport News (being) battalion one and us being battalion two, worked directly on their channel. Then, we actually established voice-to-voice communication just on what the intentions were. We recognized that first it was in their city, it was their call, and we took more of a support role.”
Watch: Red car drives wrong way up to MMMBT crash
Red car drives up to scene of MMMBT crash
Suffolk Fire & Rescue Asst. Chief Dimitri Wilson said there are a lot of factors that go into getting a car out of the water.
“We have sonar detection, ROVs [remotely operated vehicles] that are in place that are able to detect the vehicle, get a visual of the vehicle, the depth of the vehicle, what type of shape it may be in. There are different circumstances that come into play regarding exactly how they’re going to get it up," Wilson explained.
While such calls can be a strain on resources, the city is prepared, Wilson said.
“We look to get it done in any capacity," said Wilson.
There was no structural damage to the bridge-tunnel, VSP said.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
More transportation news
Leaders remind public of Drive Slow, Move Over law ahead of 4th of July weekend
Conor Hollingsworth
2:05 PM, Jul 02, 2024
Florida man dies in crash that sent car off Monitor-Merrimac into water
Madeline Miller
7:49 AM, Jul 01, 2024
What to expect when traveling this summer
Erin Miller
11:03 AM, Jun 28, 2024
Amtrak ridership numbers in Hampton Roads are skyrocketing
Conor Hollingsworth
8:03 AM, Jun 28, 2024
Mary the Tunnel Boring Machine makes U-turn after HRBT expansion work
Foster Meyerson
11:13 AM, Jun 27, 2024
Major bridge projects coming to Suffolk include rebuilding King's Highway Bridge
Conor Hollingsworth
7:56 AM, Jun 26, 2024
WTKR Traffic Log: June 24 - 30
Web Staff
7:54 AM, Jun 24, 2024
Free ride service to stay at Oceanfront through October
Erika Craven
10:53 PM, Jun 23, 2024
Comments / 0