VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, a landmark in the Resort City, officially reopened Friday after being forced to close for about three months.
The pier shut down in January after a man drove his car through barricades and off the edge. Police say the driver died.
Video of the incident went viral and garnered national attention.
A memorial for that man is still visible at the edge of the boardwalk.
Virginia Beach
VBPD confirms body recovered with car that drove off Fishing Pier
It took nearly a week for police to retrieve the car from the Atlantic Ocean, which they said was difficult to execute due to weather conditions.
WATCH: Drone video shows damage of the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
WATCH: Drone video shows repaired Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
Fishing Pier officially reopens
Now, three months later, the community is able to enjoy the Oceanfront staple again. Earlier this week, the pier fully reopened to foot traffic.
The businesses on the pier have stayed open, but now, fishermen can get back to what they love to do and people can walk the pier.
Several fishermen told News 3 they're happy it's back open.
Matt Temple said, "Especially with mental health issues people are dealing with- really the pier is a place for a lot of people to find peace. So it’s really good to have it reopened."
“Of course, the way it happened was sad, but it looks good," commented Joseph Ilvento. They did a really good job. They cleaned it up really nice."
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The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
You can call or text 988 if you’re in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress. It’s a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential support. They are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can learn more at 988lifeline.org.
Findtreatment.gov
Findtreatment.gov is a confidential and anonymous resource for locating treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories. Visit https://findtreatment.gov/locator to locate treatment options near you.
National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-supported service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition. You can text “HelpLine” to 62640 or call 800-950-6264. Learn more about additional resources at www.nami.org/help.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
The Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nationwide network of mental health professionals who offer virtual and in-office sessions at a steeply reduced rate to people who qualify. You can learn more at www.openpathcollective.org.
