SHINE — A maroon pickup truck and the body of a missing Hood Canal Bridge maintenance worker were recovered from deep waters below the Hood Canal Bridge early Thursday morning.
The worker who plunged to his death into the canal will be identified by the State Patrol after the family has a positive identification, said acting state Transportation Secretary Roger Millar.
The pickup had been discovered earlier this week in 344 feet of water about 150 feet north of the floating span.
Searchers began looking for the man May 17 when he went missing after a work shift a day earlier. Evidence at the scene indicated 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 the man’s wife called to ask where he was.
Searchers used sonar and an unmanned submersible rover to look for the truck.
“Those who knew our co-worker will remember him as a champion for safety,” Millar said.
“He will be remembered for his willingness to respond to any need at the bridge, to help other employees with tasks and to be fully involved in his job.”
The man’s family asked Millar to share a message, he said.
“These last 10 days have been the hardest days our collective family has had to face,” the family said.
“We are united in extending our gratitude to the search crews who have worked so many long hours to recover our loved one, and to the WSDOT Hood Canal Bridge crew and management for their kindness and compassion throughout this ordeal.”
Said Millar: “It may be some time before we learn what caused this tragic event, and indeed we may never know.
“What I do know, and what I am extremely proud of, is the compassion, courage and respect with which WSDOT employees have responded to this accident.”
