The accident occurred Tuesday morning near Virginia Beach.
The Coast Guard and local authorities canceled a full-day search Tuesday night for a man in the water near Virginia Beach after a tractor accident.
Authorities received a 911 call at around 8:30 am with reports that the tractor trailer hit the south side of the Chesapeake Bay bridge and entered the water, the Coast Guard said.
Witnesses reported seeing a man get out of the vehicle and head west, according to the Coast Guard.
A distribution manager at Baltimore-based Cloverland Green Spring Dairy confirmed to Richmond ABC’s WRIC affiliate on Tuesday night that one of its dairy trucks was involved in the accident. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel official identified the missing man as Erik Mezick, 47, of Fruitland, Maryland.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at CBBT are with Mr. Mezick’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Jeff Holland, CBBT’s executive director, told WRIC.
In addition to two Coast Guard boats and a Coast Guard helicopter, local police, firefighters and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission searched the waters to find the missing man.
Crews searched 178 square miles before the search was canceled at night.
The Coast Guard asked anyone who had any information or saw the man in the water to call the Virginia Sector Command Center at (757) 483-8567.