VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier has reopened three months after police say a man intentionally drove his car off the edge.
Video captured by News 3's Colter Anstaett Sunday morning showed people walking on the pier and fishing.
A representative of the family that privately owns the pier — located between 14th and 15th Streets on the boardwalk — told News 3 earlier in April they were taking their time to ensure it was safe for foot traffic.
The family that owns the pier had a soft-opening over the weekend, and a grand opening will be held on Friday at noon, according to the spokesperson.
Watch: Fisherman catches stingray on newly-reopened VB Pier
On January 27 and throughout the week following, the Hampton Roads region was captivated by the story as Virginia Beach Police worked with a dredging company to recover the vehicle. It ultimately took them six days to pull the vehicle due to weather conditions.
Videos of the incident and recovery efforts at the pier shared across local news social media accounts and others garnered tens of millions of views.
Watch: Everyday Hero posts comforting letter after car drives off VB pier
The conversation quickly turned to a focus on mental health, as police said they believed the man's actions to be intentional. The man has not been identified by police.
A memorial to the man was erected at the site in the days following, with many passersby leaving mementos and writing notes to the man.
A couple of fisherman talked with News 3 on Sunday afternoon. One of them, Joseph Ilvento, lost his own brother to suicide. He urged people to talk to their loved ones if they're ever going through emotional distress.
“He was suffering for quite a long time, and of course I was shocked but I wasn’t shocked when his wife told me that he committed suicide," he told News 3.
If you or a loved one are going through instances of emotional distress, or experiencing suicidal thoughts, we encourage you to take advantage for the following resources.
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.
