The driver of the truck that went over the side of the Delaware Memorial Bridge and into the Delaware River on Friday has been identified by authorities. According to the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), the deceased male was recovered from the river along with the vehicle on Saturday morning following delayed recovery efforts.
Emergency personnel arrived on site at approximately 6:00 a.m. Saturday. Water and tide conditions postponed the recovery, which began in earnest around 9:00 a.m. A crane and barge previously positioned at the Bridge Ship Collision Protection construction project were brought in to assist with the operation. The vehicle and the occupant were successfully recovered from approximately 20 feet of water at 11:10 a.m.
The driver has been identified as Zair Murzakov, 35, of Brooklyn, New York. The Bobtail tractor involved in the crash is registered to XFR8 LLC of West Chester Township, Ohio.
Officials said the Delaware State Police Marine dive unit and the Holloway Terrace Fire Company were instrumental in the recovery. A Hurst tool, commonly referred to as the Jaws of Life, was used to remove the driver from the cab. The Delaware Office of the Medical Examiner has taken possession of the remains.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:40 a.m. Friday when a Bobtail tractor crossed three lanes of traffic on the Delaware-bound span of the bridge and collided with a concrete wall. The vehicle then went over the barrier and into the river below. Dive teams located the submerged cab later that morning.
Throughout Friday, DRBA maintenance and marine units secured the affected sections of the bridge and the surrounding area. A DRBA maintenance attenuator vehicle was positioned on the concrete pad near the damaged wall as a safety precaution during the operation.
