Bridge jumper

[jazz lady]

SOLOMONS, Md. – On October 5, 2023, emergency personnel responded to an incident at Thomas Johnson Bridge and the Solomons Island Boat Ramp. At approximately 7:39 p.m., a person jumped off the bridge, resulting in the shutdown of traffic in both directions.

Crews from Calvert and St. Mary’s were dispatched to the scene to search for the victim in the water. Fire boats from both counties also responded to assist in the search and rescue operation. Maryland State Police, Trooper 2, with Flight medics and EMT’s on standby, had been pre-launched.

In a fortunate turn of events, a private boater was able to recover the 41-year-old male victim from the water and transport him to the Solomons Boat Ramp to meet EMS.

Firefighters established a landing zone at the Navy Recreation Center. CPR was initiated, and life-saving measures continued. However, due to trauma arrest, the MEDEVAC was canceled. The patient was then transported to an area hospital.

Boater Locates Man That Jumped Off Thomas Johnson Bridge, Victim Succumbs To Injuries - The BayNet

SOLOMONS, Md. – On October 5, 2023, emergency personnel responded to an incident at Thomas Johnson Bridge and the Solomons Island Boat Ramp. At approximately 7:39 p.m., a person jumped off the bridge, resulting in the shutdown of traffic in both directions. Crews from Calvert and St. Mary’s were...

thebaynet.com

 

[vraiblonde]

At least this one didn't do it in the middle of rush hour.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

THey should park their cars sideways and toss the keys off the side of the bridge first.

 

[Dakota]

I don't understand why anyone would decide to jump off a bridge to kill themselves, drowning doesn't seem all that appealing or quick. Some years back, I had an employee say "maybe tomorrow will be the day when everyone will wonder why my vehicle is sitting on the bridge with the keys in it and cannot find me until some days later when I float up."

Of course that person got a referral and won't tell what they said was a joke ever again.

 

[DaSDGuy]

Now they will want even more money to build fences and nets to prevent the inevitable.

 

[Tech]

Now they will want even more money to build fences and nets to prevent the inevitable.

The least we can do for the safety of innocent boaters.

 

[glhs837]

THey should park their cars sideways and toss the keys off the side of the bridge first.

 

[Kyle]

Have I just missed the articles and news stories or does the 301 bridge not seem to have this chronic problem?

 

[glhs837]

Have I just missed the articles and news stories or does the 301 bridge not seem to have this chronic problem?

Nope, but its a lot less populated around there.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

I don't understand why anyone would decide to jump off a bridge to kill themselves, drowning doesn't seem all that appealing or quick. Some years back, I had an employee say "maybe tomorrow will be the day when everyone will wonder why my vehicle is sitting on the bridge with the keys in it and cannot find me until some days later when I float up."

Of course that person got a referral and won't tell what they said was a joke ever again.

They don't really drown so much so, but succumb to the blunt trauma of their body hitting the water after falling from a certain height. Their body goes spat and is squished/pancaked with broken bones and massive internal injuries. If this person jumped from the peak height of the bridge, 140 feet, he would have hit the water at 64.71 mph. At that speed, discounting the person was a high dive professional, would have hit the water like hitting/landing on concrete pavement. After a certain speed, and depending on the mass/size of an object, water will instantly not give. Because as everyone knows from science class, water/liquids, do not compress. Even from 100 feet, a body will hit the water at 54.69 mph.

It is why belly flops are so painful. The water does not compress, or move out of the way fast enough, from over such a large surface area of the body that is hitting the water.

 

[Gilligan]

Nope, but its a lot less populated around there.

I wonder if it would have become more "inviting" to jumpers if they had kept the pedestrian lane originally proposed and later dropped due to excessive cost?

 

[glhs837]

Its not like Solomons has a ped or bike lane.

 

[Bann]

Now they will want even more money to build fences and nets to prevent the inevitable.

Oh, yeah... saw that posted in several groups I'm in.

 

[stgislander]

Build a new, lower bridge and jumpers hoping to commit suicide will not be a problem.

 

[Gilligan]

 

[Sneakers]

Its not like Solomons has a ped or bike lane.

Not dedicated, but there are signs indicating bikes can use the entire lane, so the whole road is a bike lane on the island.

 

[glhs837]

Not dedicated, but there are signs indicating bikes can use the entire lane, so the whole road is a bike lane on the island.
View attachment 173009

I was referring to the bridge and being lazy

Build a new, lower bridge and jumpers hoping to commit suicide will not be a problem.

Sorry, but I love riding my motorcycle and the wifes convertible over that too much for that solution...... Bikes better as the view is amazing.

 

[Sneakers]

I was referring to the bridge and being lazy

Ah. I was thinking in terms of bike destinations, not the bridge.

 

[Clem72]

Now they will want even more money to build fences and nets to prevent the inevitable.

That't the only thing holding the bridge together. We may need a new jumper every other year.

 

[AnthonyJames]

I had a second cousin who jumped off the Bay bridge in the 80's. On a Saturday morning during summer, he went across the eastbound bridge, turned around and on the west bound bridge at the highest point, pulled to the right and stopped, put on his 4way flashers, turned the engine off and walked straight to the edge and jumped. No traffic on the west bound bridge so no one saw him jump and the bridge authority thought he had abandoned the car. About an hour later after searching the bridge, two guys on a boat who had heard the impact brought his body ashore, the bridge authority decided to search his vehicle and found a suicide note. Had to have a closed casket because the body had such massive trauma from the impact, peeled the skin right off his face.