JerodWert,Jerel Wert Obituary, Death; – US Park Police have identified the two individuals who lost their lives when a truck collided with the Arlington Memorial Bridge last week and subsequently fell into the Potomac River. The deceased were brothers, Jerod and Jerel Wert, hailing from Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.
On Tuesday, vehicles sped past the area where fencing and other barriers had been erected to seal off the damaged section. “This is horrible, scary, and sad,” remarked Chris Ziemba, who was visiting from Michigan for the inauguration and to explore the local attractions. “It’s very sad, and I feel sympathy for those affected.”
A dash camera recorded the incident as a white truck entered the district. Investigators report that it struck another vehicle on the bridge before sharply veering left and crashing into the railing.
“It’s astonishing because it really crashes into the railing,” stated David Lattanzi, a former bridge inspector currently affiliated with George Mason University. “If it were a tractor-trailer or a semi, it would be understandable. That is a massive truck. However, this appears to be a light-duty vehicle, which creates a particularly dangerous scenario.”
Lattanzi believes that inspectors are currently assessing the likelihood of such an incident occurring again. He noted that they are also exploring ways to enhance operational safety measures.
“Given that it is a specialty bridge with architectural features, it may not possess the same design resilience as a major bridge on Route 66 or elsewhere,” he explained. “As civil engineers, we dedicate our careers to preventing these types of tragedies. The preservation of life and safety is our primary focus from the very beginning.”
