WASHINGTON, D.C.—Twin brothers Jerel and Jerod Wert, of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, tragically lost their lives on January 16 when their truck plunged into the icy Potomac River following a crash on the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Authorities confirmed the deaths after recovering their bodies from the river during overnight search efforts.
The accident occurred around 7 p.m. Thursday, when the Wert brothers’ truck collided with another vehicle on the bridge. The impact caused the truck to veer into oncoming traffic before breaking through a barrier and plunging into the water. Dashcam footage from eyewitness Nigisti Adane captured the moments leading up to the crash. “The truck went straight down. It looked like it went straight down,” Adane said.
Jerod Wert, who worked as an HVAC mechanic, was behind the wheel at the time of the crash, according to the brothers’ sister. His twin brother, Jerel Wert, a carpenter, was in the passenger seat. The brothers were on their way to a job in Washington, D.C., when the accident occurred.
Emergency crews, including divers, worked overnight to recover the victims and the truck. Jerod’s body was recovered last Friday after the vehicle was pulled from the river. Jerel’s body was located during the initial search efforts the previous evening.
U.S. Park Police are leading the investigation into the crash and are asking for additional eyewitness accounts and video footage to determine what caused the collision. A minor injury was reported from the second vehicle involved, though the driver is expected to recover.
The crash has left the Chesapeake Beach community mourning the loss of the Wert brothers, who were remembered by family and friends for their dedication to their work and their close bond as twins. Further updates will follow as the investigation progresses.
