Solomons Bridge Jumper

[BadGirl]

If I ever become so inconsolable and troubled that I feel suicide is my only option, I'll try my best to jump from the bridge only between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., so as to minimize the impact to local traffic patterns. And I will also leave my car at the base of the bridge, so no one will have to move it, nor will I impede the light traffic at that time of the day. I'll also wear a reflective body suit so that the searchers and recovery team will have a better chance of finding me quickly in the dark; it will also be adorned with BRIGHT orange trim pieces so that, if by chance they don't find me till daylight hours, I will be easier to spot. I will also wear a full-face helmet, so that when I hit the water, the force will kill me quickly, but my face will be intact, so that an open casket will be possible.

Of course, I will do all of this because I will be thoughtfully meticulous in my plans to kill myself.



Of course, someone who is so desperate to kill themselves is only thinking about the MOMENT, not about the implications of what happens during and after the suicide.

 

[warneckutz]

If I ever become so inconsolable and troubled that I feel suicide is my only option, I'll try my best to jump from the bridge only between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., so as to minimize the impact to local traffic patterns. And I will also leave my car at the base of the bridge, so no one will have to move it, nor will I impede the light traffic at that time of the day. I'll also wear a reflective body suit so that the searchers and recovery team will have a better chance of finding me quickly in the dark; it will also be adorned with BRIGHT orange trim pieces so that, if by chance they don't find me till daylight hours, I will be easier to spot. I will also wear a full-face helmet, so that when I hit the water, the force will kill me quickly, but my face will be intact, so that an open casket will be possible.

Of course, I will do all of this because I will be thoughtfully meticulous in my plans to kill myself.



Of course, someone who is so desperate to kill themselves is only thinking about the MOMENT, not about the implications of what happens during and after the suicide.

Tiki Bar Opening Day...

 

[desertrat]

ISuicide, no matter where it occurs, is a selfish act.

Can't agree with that. There could be selfless reasons. Don't want the family to incur huge medical bills comes to mind or you don't want to burden them with caring for you. Of course the family would say they wanted to, but if I found out I had Alzheimers, for example, I would definately explain to my family that I was going to kill myself before it progressed to the point where I couldn't. If they could understand my wishes and approve it would make it easier too. If my Dad had told me he planned on doing it I would have understood. Assisted suicide should be allowed also, I think, in some cases.

 

[itsbob]

This is from a news article from March 7, 2007 about suicides from the bridge.

"At least 12 people have jumped from the nearly 30-year-old Thomas Johnson bridge, according to archived news reports. Only four survived."

It is 140 feet from bridge to water.

The article goes on to talk about the nature of jumpers and why there is no fence or barrier on with the 301 bridge or this one.

Here is the link:

Bridge jumps prompt talk of phones, barriers
Wednesday, March 7, 2007

From the Baltimore Sun, July 23, 1992: One of this 4 survivors:

Man survives dive off Patuxent bridge Police chased suspect through 2 counties.

July 23, 1992|By Sheridan Lyons | Sheridan Lyons,Staff Writer

A complaint about a loud car radio led to a chase early today that ended with a spectacular high dive from the top of the Gov. Thomas Johnson bridge over the Patuxent River.

Timothy Kenneth Hoofnagle, 28, of Lusby, Calvert County, was in fair condition with no serious injuries at the Washington Hospital Center trauma unit.

Jumpers aren't a safety concern.. People don't accidently find themselves hurtling towards the water, kids aren't walking home and falling off the bridges. They jump because they want to, voluntarily.

The taxpayers shouldn't be burdened for making the bridges safer when they aren't unsafe as designed.

You want to jump? This is 'Merica.. for pleasure, sport or to end it all, go ahead and jump. in 'Merica you're allowed to make your own decisions, even if they are stupid ones.

If we're concerned about mental health, and suicide prevention, and at the same time recognize the mass shooters suffer from the same problems, MAYBE, just MAYBE we should do something about the root causes and stop trying to fix the symptoms.

Putting a fence on the bridge will stop someone from committing suicide as well as a "Gun Free Zone" sign will stop a shooter from killing in a school.

 

[warneckutz]

in 'Merica you're allowed to make your own decisions, even if they are stupid ones.

Re-electing obama

 

[kwillia]

If I ever become so inconsolable and troubled that I feel suicide is my only option, I'll try my best to jump from the bridge only between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., so as to minimize the impact to local traffic patterns. And I will also leave my car at the base of the bridge, so no one will have to move it, nor will I impede the light traffic at that time of the day. I'll also wear a reflective body suit so that the searchers and recovery team will have a better chance of finding me quickly in the dark; it will also be adorned with BRIGHT orange trim pieces so that, if by chance they don't find me till daylight hours, I will be easier to spot. I will also wear a full-face helmet, so that when I hit the water, the force will kill me quickly, but my face will be intact, so that an open casket will be possible.

Of course, I will do all of this because I will be thoughtfully meticulous in my plans to kill myself.



Of course, someone who is so desperate to kill themselves is only thinking about the MOMENT, not about the implications of what happens during and after the suicide.

Thanks for the dramatics... but if this is in response to Jen questioning why the bridge had to be shut down for so long it doesn't work... Jen wasn't questioning why the jumper didn't do all that you typed but rather why the authorities had to make the bridge a crime scene.

 

[PsyOps]

Can't agree with that. There could be selfless reasons. Don't want the family to incur huge medical bills comes to mind or you don't want to burden them with caring for you. Of course the family would say they wanted to, but if I found out I had Alzheimers, for example, I would definately explain to my family that I was going to kill myself before it progressed to the point where I couldn't. If they could understand my wishes and approve it would make it easier too. If my Dad had told me he planned on doing it I would have understood. Assisted suicide should be allowed also, I think, in some cases.

I can’t disagree with this. And we know nothing about the person that jumped. But in the manner that they did it, it was selfish. I was trying to point out that this does not deserve the massive criticism thrown on this thread. It seems folks are looking at this from a very narrow prism of their understanding (or lack of understanding) of things; even some mild form of empathy. Some folks were inconvenienced for a while. Their lives will go on and they will forget about it. The person that jumped, his/her life is over. The family left behind will likely deal with this for a very long time. No one here can say this will never happen to them; and when it does they are likely to change their tone.

 

[Bay_Kat]

Thanks for the dramatics... but if this is in response to Jen questioning why the bridge had to be shut down for so long it doesn't work... Jen wasn't questioning why the jumper didn't do all that you typed but rather why the authorities had to make the bridge a crime scene.

My first thought was they stayed up there because the helicopter hadn't gotten there and they had the best vantage point and were searching the water with binoculars to see if they could spot the guy and it was the cop cars blocking traffic.

 

[kwillia]

My first thought was they stayed up there because the helicopter hadn't gotten there and they had the best vantage point and were searching the water with binoculars to see if they could spot the guy and it was the cop cars blocking traffic.

Good point.

 

[rmorse]

There was a powerful drawing posted on imgur from a suicidal individual, that showed their view in a way I had never thought of before. We all have heard the whole "permanent solution to a temporary problem" or that they feel like their is no hope/other way. This drawing touched me though....

Basically, it was a noose hanging in a room. Everywhere in the room was black, dark, despair, pain. The middle of the noose (looking through it) was gorgeous, happy, beautiful, bliss. It was a window, looking into what the artist thought was the way out of the pain.

Thoughts to all involved. I'll try and find the picture.

 

[NextJen]

My first thought was they stayed up there because the helicopter hadn't gotten there and they had the best vantage point and were searching the water with binoculars to see if they could spot the guy and it was the cop cars blocking traffic.

Now that makes sense. And gee, it would have been nice if folks could actually respond intelligently as you just did, rather than dramatics and jumping to conclusions.

Thanks!

 

[Misfit]

I think about jumping every time I drive over that thing. :shrug:




But I also think about what it would be like to be a lady bug so maybe that’s not so strange.

 

[BadGirl]

Thanks for the dramatics... but if this is in response to Jen questioning why the bridge had to be shut down for so long it doesn't work... Jen wasn't questioning why the jumper didn't do all that you typed but rather why the authorities had to make the bridge a crime scene.

My post wasn't a dramatic dialogue about "why" the bridge was shut down, it was more a conversation point about, in that split second moment of profound dispair, that the person committing suicide is likely thinking just about ending their misery. The last thing they probably thought wasn't about how their actions would impact traffic on a busy Tuesday afternoon.

 

[kwillia]

My post wasn't a dramatic dialogue about "why" the bridge was shut down, it was more a conversation point about, in that split second moment of profound dispair, that the person committing suicide is likely thinking just about ending their misery. The last thing they probably thought wasn't about how their actions would impact traffic on a busy Tuesday afternoon.

Oh okay.. then I think that the jumper in fact was thinking about the visibility of their action. I believe that the timing indicates it was important to him to have people witness his end.

 

[vraiblonde]

If I ever become so inconsolable and troubled that I feel suicide is my only option, I'll try my best to jump from the bridge only between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., so as to minimize the impact to local traffic patterns. And I will also leave my car at the base of the bridge, so no one will have to move it, nor will I impede the light traffic at that time of the day. I'll also wear a reflective body suit so that the searchers and recovery team will have a better chance of finding me quickly in the dark; it will also be adorned with BRIGHT orange trim pieces so that, if by chance they don't find me till daylight hours, I will be easier to spot. I will also wear a full-face helmet, so that when I hit the water, the force will kill me quickly, but my face will be intact, so that an open casket will be possible.

Of course, I will do all of this because I will be thoughtfully meticulous in my plans to kill myself.

That would be extremely considerate of you and noted with admiration in your jump thread.



I do have to say, when traffic is backed up to Kingdom Come and you're sitting there idling impatiently, the urge to jump becomes overwhelming.

But what if he wasn't depressed or even really trying to commit suicide? What if he'd been watching too many Jackass movies and thought it would be a cool stunt? A hold my beer and watch this moment?

What if it was a protest move to get them to make the bridge four lanes and relieve congestion?

Seriously, it could be anything.

 

[Im_Me]

Can anyone post a link to a news story on this?

 

[BadGirl]

Oh okay.. then I think that the jumper in fact was thinking about the visibility of their action. I believe that the timing indicates it was important to him to have people witness his end.

I hadn't thought of that perspective.

You may be right....perhaps this person led an introverted life...someone in the background-type-of-person. Maybe this person wanted, needed, DEMANDED the attention of his suicide that he never got in his "real" life.

Of course, this is all just speculation on all of us. None of us will ever know the specifics of what drove this person to do what he did.

 

[aps45819]

It's not a competition- both are inconsiderate. However, in my opinion, taking your life (no matter how one chooses to do so) solicits more sensitivity than people making cruel comments on a forum.

Maybe some depressed person might choose a different path if they realize their public suicide is considered to be the act of a pathetic loser and derided by the community and not some noble ending to their existence

 

[MMM_donuts]

Oh okay.. then I think that the jumper in fact was thinking about the visibility of their action. I believe that the timing indicates it was important to him to have people witness his end.

I realize how weird this is going to sound but why is that so horrible (this is directed to the crowd in general)? I mean, it's the last thing they're ever going to do. Yes, it inconveniences some people that got stuck in traffic but if it brings attention to a problem, whatever that problem may be, and it gets people talking about suicide, suicide prevention, getting help, suicide theories, and if it encourages a few people to look around and appreciate that there are some things in their lives worth continuing to live for, then the tragedy of one person's lost life may positively impact another's.

 

[bcp]

I realize how weird this is going to sound but why is that so horrible (this is directed to the crowd in general)? I mean, it's the last thing they're ever going to do. Yes, it inconveniences some people that got stuck in traffic but if it brings attention to a problem, whatever that problem may be, and it gets people talking about suicide, suicide prevention, getting help, suicide theories, and if it encourages a few people to look around and appreciate that there are some things in their lives worth continuing to live for, then the tragedy of one person's lost life may positively impact another's.

Just make the bridge a no jump zone.
no need to talk or discuss or try to treat someone that is suffering a temporary mental illness.
No jump zone, with big signs will stop it from every happening again.