HOOD CANAL — The body of a missing WSDOT employee and his car have been found.

“Very early this morning, crews confirmed that they found the missing vehicle and our employee about 150 feet north of the bridge,” acting Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar reported May 23.

“While this news sadly confirms our tragedy, the unknown is now known and we can move forward with a plan to recover our coworker.”

The employee was reported missing on May 17. A cable was broken on the employee parking area on the bridge, and it was believed the employee’s car went into the water. The sad discovery on May 23 confirmed it; the cause is still under investigation.

According to Millar, the vehicle is submerged in more than 344 feet of water. He said recovery operations will be “as deliberate” as the search was.

“We are relying on experts from Global Diving and Salvage, a Seattle-based company, to guide this effort,” Millar reported. “Today will be spent creating that recovery plan. The timing of the actual recovery will depend on what equipment needs to be mobilized to the site and marine conditions. We of course must still work around the tides and currents, which can make the process frustratingly slow.”

Once the vehicle and our employee are recovered, the Washington State Patrol take the lead on the investigation, Millar reported. “We are continuing to honor the family’s request not to release the employee’s name until positive identification and formal family notification can take place. Rest assured, however, that we are in frequent contact with the family and they are aware of our progress.”

Millar said employees have asked how they can help. “The best way is to contribute to the WSDOT Memorial Foundation. The foundation provides WSDOT a mechanism to tangibly help extended WSDOT families manage the financial consequences of the loss of a loved one. I encourage you to visit the website and to consider using this method to extend your condolences and support.”