(Forestville, MD) – Fast response and quick thinking by state troopers, county police, and municipal officers led to the rescue this afternoon of a suicidal man who threatened to jump off the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
The man is not being identified because he has not yet been charged with a crime. He is a 38-year-old man whose address is unknown at this time. He has been taken by ambulance to Southern Maryland Hospital for an examination.
Shortly after 3:00 p.m. today, Maryland State Police at the Forestville Barracks received a call from a relative of the man who said he planned to jump from the bridge. Almost simultaneously, the barracks began receiving calls from motorists who reported a man standing on the sidewalk portion of the bridge on the inner loop of I-495.
Five state troopers arrived in less than five minutes. They were joined by an officer from the Prince George’s County Police and three officers from the Forest Heights Police Department. Boats from the D.C. Harbor Patrol assembled in the water below. The inner loop portion of the roadway was closed.
As police approached the man, he climbed over the fence along the sidewalk and stood on the outer portion of the bridge over the water. Troopers began talking with the man, who repeatedly threatened to jump.
During the dialog, the man grabbed onto the concrete along the bottom of the bridge and dropped over, hanging by his hands suspended over the water. Troopers and officers climbed over the fence to the edge of the bridge. They used a rope to tie the man’s hands to the bridge.
Risking their own safety in this precarious position, the troopers and officers then pulled the man back up onto the bridge. The man was then turned over to emergency medical personnel who were standing by.
No troopers or county police officers were injured in the incident. The inner loop of I-495 was reopened less than 30 minutes after the incident began.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: The troopers and officers involved in this incident are currently at the State Police Forestville Barracks, 3500 Forestville Road, Forestville, 301-568-8101.
6 comments:
Just for the record, when you put your own life at risk, that qualifies the act as a heroic deed.
If things do not get better soon we are sadly going to hear of more news stories like this....
Have anyone of you ever had to drive that bridge everyday during rush hour?
It could explain a lot!
But seriously, I hope the guy gets some help and God Bless the officers for even bothering.
Oh My.... I thought you had to be a FARMIN to save someone?
My sister and I saw this man yesterday. It was a trip...He had a bandana on and a big ole jacket. He was holding onto the side rail. The thing is - the new bridge is so big that his hands did not have a good grip. He kept looking down to the water but I guess he decided agaist it because the boats were down there already. I thought the bridge was built so that no one would be able to climb without a ladder or something. Anyway - Im glad they got him. P.S. Traffic moves smoothly on WWB now...In both directions...
This is a regular occurrence up there. Troopers from the Forestville Barrack saved a man in the fall of 2008 as well. Great Job, with these troubling times I fear this will be a regular occurrence.
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