Family mourns tragic loss of Taj Sanford

Yesterday, an accident on Interstate 10 sent an 18-wheeler over the Pascagoula River Bridge.

The driver, 47-year-old Gulfport resident Taj Sanford, was killed.

- yesterday, an accident on - interstate 10 sent an 18- wheeler over the pascagoula - river bridge.

The driver, 47- - year- - old gulfport resident, taj- sanford was killed.

News 25's - lorraine weiskopf speaks with - the heartbroken - family of sanford.- - the tragic accident - occurred around 4am tuesday.

Ta- sanford the - - - - driver, swerved to avoid a- crash, breaking through the sid- of the pascagoula river bridge- on interstate 10- westbound landing in the river- below.- carey sanford, the victim's - cousin, says, :we talked- everyday, i didn't hear from hi- that morning and i was trying t- get intouch with him, and when - couldn't get in - - - - touch with him, that's when i - had his wife go to where he was- i heard about a wreck - and i needed to know if that wa- him or not.

- his heart broken cousin, carey- sanford, believes his - cousin died selflessly trying t- save the other driver.- - - - carey sanford, the victim's - cousin, says, "he saw danger, h tried to avoid it, and i- know.

He's been driving for ove- 20 years so i know he knew what- he was- doing.

So he did try to save- someone else, which i'm sure he- did."

Taj was originally from zachary- louisiana and - moved to gulfport two years ago- this october would- have been his one year- anniversary with his wife april- he leaves - behind five children, two of- which live in gulfport.

- carey sanford, the victim's - cousin, says, "we were like brothers, we were so- close.

If you knew him you had- to love him, the biggest thing- was his family.

That meant- the world to him."

Mourning the tragic passing,- carey recalls some of the - - - - moments they shared together.

- carey sanford, the victim's - cousin, says, "there was so man to even think of one, - me and him just loved being - together, riding motorcycles."

We reached out to taj's brother- kyle sanford.

A quote from kyle- about his big brother, "he inspires me to be better.

A - better brother.

A better- husband.

A better father.

A - better man.

He was my hero.

He- was the best of us.

Im going to- miss him."

In gulfport, lorrain weiskopf news 25.

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