VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — After the car that drove off the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier was retrieved Friday morning, police confirmed that a dead body was also found.
At 10:15 a.m. on Friday, police shared that the dead body recovered was an occupant of the red Nissan Kicks that was recovered, and there was no license plate attached.
DISCLAIMER: Some viewers may find the content in the video below upsetting
The next steps entail medical examiners identifying the dead body, then notifying the next of kin, police say.
“They’ve got our forensics specialists on the barge and they're going to extract the body from the vehicle and he will go with the medical examiner and attempt to identify him and reunite him with his family,” said VBPD’s Chief Communications Officer Jody Saunders.
The recovery effort was led by Virginia Beach Police in coordination with Crofton Industries, whose professional salvage and dive team was able to hoist the vehicle up onto a barge. The entities delayed the recovery for several days to ensure the mission could be completed safely.
The first hardhat diver from Crofton Industries entered the water around 9 a.m. and the operation was done at 9:48 a.m., police said.
The car was retrieved just around 9:20 a.m. on Friday. The front of the car appeared to be smashed, and the hood was partially dangling off as it was hoisted upside down from the water.
Police added that no one was hurt during the recovery effort.
The recovery gave a critical update to a story that has captured the attention of people throughout the region and beyond. The car had been lingering at the bottom of the ocean for about seven days after driving off the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier. Videos capturing the incident and the aftermath at the pier have garnered tens of millions of views on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Jimmy Speedway, an onlooker who watched the recovery happen, told us he hopes the situation reminds people to be mindful of their well-being.
“We came out here today to just kind of bring awareness to the seriousness of mental health and what people can do to get help, and really just the best options to take,” said Speedway.
Speedway continued, “I think a lot of people in Virginia Beach right now are hugging their loved ones a little tighter and they’re just trying to reach out to the people they love and make sure that they're okay.”
A vigil will be held at 6 p.m. at the Fishing Pier with candles to honor the person who passed away. As of this writing, the person has not been identified by police.
Virginia Beach
What we know about the body, vehicle found after car drove off VB Fishing Pier
If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, we encourage you to use the following resources.
News
Car driving off Virginia Beach pier sparks conversation about mental health
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
You can call or text 988 if you’re in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress. It’s a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential support. They are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can learn more at 988lifeline.org.
Findtreatment.gov
Findtreatment.gov is a confidential and anonymous resource for locating treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories. Visit https://findtreatment.gov/locator to locate treatment options near you.
National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-supported service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition. You can text “HelpLine” to 62640 or call 800-950-6264. Learn more about additional resources at www.nami.org/help.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
The Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nationwide network of mental health professionals who offer virtual and in-office sessions at a steeply reduced rate to people who qualify. You can learn more at www.openpathcollective.org.
