Portsmouth police found the body of a suspect involved in a stolen vehicle pursuit on Interstate 264 and are now working to identify the person who led officers on the chase before jumping off the Berkley Bridge early Monday morning.
Police said an officer spotted a stolen vehicle traveling eastbound on Route 164 toward Route 264 around 6:30 a.m. The officer attempted to deploy a GPS tracking device, but the attempt failed.
The officer continued following the vehicle until it crashed near Exit 9, just before the Waterside Drive exit.
According to police, the driver got out of the wrecked vehicle, ran from the scene, and jumped more than 40 feet off the Berkley Bridge into the Elizabeth River. Around that time of morning, experts say water temperatures were likely in the low-to-mid 40s—cold enough to cause hypothermia within minutes. A person can lose muscle function in roughly 10 minutes in water that cold, not to mention the shock of the initial impact.
Police said they immediately launched a rescue effort. Coast Guard crews searched the water, and Virginia State Police monitored from a helicopter, but the search was unsuccessful. Authorities located the suspect’s body around midday Monday and began recovery efforts.
The identity of the driver has not yet been confirmed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
VDOT cameras showed flashing emergency lights on and below the Berkley Bridge. The incident caused major traffic delays for several hours, with congestion still lingering after 10 a.m.
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