12-07-2025
Tractor, driver recovered from Delaware River after Delaware Memorial Bridge crash
A tractor and its driver have been recovered from the Delaware River after falling July 11 from the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
The Delaware River and Bay Authority announced on July 12 that crews from the Delaware State Police Marine Dive Unit and the Holloway Terrace Fire Company helped in a coordinated effort to recover the driver and the tractor around 11 a.m. on July 12. A crane and barge repositioned from the active construction site of the Bridge Ship Collision Protection project were used in the recovery efforts.
The body was extracted using a Hurst tool, which is made by the company that manufactures the "jaws of life" that emergency personnel use to extract trapped victims in a variety of incidents.
The tractor, which was not pulling a trailer, went over the bridge around 3:40 a.m. on July 11 after crossing three lanes of traffic on the downslope, southbound side. It was found at 10:45 a.m. in 20 feet of water that same day.
DRBA said crews arrived at the scene at 6 a.m. July 12, but didn't begin recovery operations until 9 a.m. because of water and tide conditions. The investigation to determine the cause of the crash and the identification of the driver is still ongoing, DRBA said in a statement on July 12.
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: After Delaware Memorial Bridge crash, driver recovered from river
