Tractor-Trailer Driver Dies After Falling Off Delaware Memorial Bridge

A man from Brooklyn has been identified as the victim of a tragic accident involving a tractor-trailer that fell from the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

Zair Murzakov, 35, lost his life early Friday morning when his truck crossed multiple lanes and collided with a concrete barrier, causing it to plunge more than 170 feet into the Delaware River. The incident occurred around 3:40 a.m., and authorities are still investigating the precise circumstances leading to the crash.

Murzakov was heading from New Jersey into Delaware when he unexpectedly swerved across three lanes and struck the barrier, resulting in the vehicle’s descent into the water. At the time of the accident, the truck was not towing a trailer and was registered in West Chester Township, Ohio.

Recovery efforts were delayed by water and tide conditions, but Murzakov’s body and the trailer were recovered by Saturday morning, about 20 feet beneath the river’s surface. Support came from a crane and barge provided by a bridge construction project, aiding authorities including the Delaware State Police Marine dive unit and fire rescue teams.

A fundraising campaign has gathered over $17,000 to cover the costs of repatriating Murzakov’s body, with his family expressing a desire to return him to his homeland for a dignified burial. Details about his location remain private.