KOMO News
POULSBO — The body of a missing state Department of Transportation worker and his truck have been found submerged in deep water below the Hood Canal Bridge, DOT officials said Monday.
The discovery was made early Monday or late Sunday in 344 feet of water about 150 feet north of the floating span.
The family of the worker has been made aware, and they have asked that his name not be released until positive identification and formal family notification can take place, said acting state Transportation Secretary Roger Millar.
Experts from Global Diving and Salvage, a Seattle-based company, will guide the recovery of the worker’s body, he said.
Timing depends
“The timing of the actual recovery will depend on what equipment needs to be mobilized to the site and marine conditions,” Millar said. “We of course must still work around the tides and currents, which can make the process frustratingly slow.”
The current in the area can get to about 5 knots.
Searchers began looking for the man last Tuesday when he went missing after a work shift Monday. Evidence at the scene indicated that he drove through a pedestrian barrier and off the bridge’s lower deck.
No one saw him go in. The missing section of barrier wasn’t discovered until last Tuesday morning when the man’s wife called to ask where he was.
The Coast Guard, the Washington State Patrol and other local marine units took part in the search. An unmanned submersible was later brought in to aid in searching the bottom of the canal.
The State Patrol is continuing to investigate the incident.
KOMO is a news partner of the Peninsula Daily News.
