Man Jumps From Mid Hudson Bridge
Man Jumps From Mid Hudson Bridge
The Newburgh Beacon Bridge is one of the most picturesque landmarks in the Hudson Valley. Those of us that work in the area, or live in the area, have seen this bridge at various times of the day and night. It is one of the oldest in the region, and was constructed in 1923 by the Carnegie Steel Company of Ambridge, Pennsylvania. In addition to being a marvel of engineering, the bridge carries three lanes of NY 55 across the river. On occasion, a center lane is closed to facilitate work on either side.
At the time of the incident, there were no fatalities, but several people reported seeing the man jump off the bridge and into the water. Police and fire personnel responded to the scene, but did not find him. He was rescued by a Newburgh fireboat and brought to the Beacon side of the river.
Several of the city’s fire departments, including Highland and Poughkeepsie, responded to the call. Aside from the aforementioned fire departments, New York State Police and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department were also involved. This was a multi-agency operation, and state police officials said they viewed the event as a success. While the event did not have the usual suspects, such as the aforementioned firefighters, the state police rolled out the big guns with helicopters and boats. The State Police said they did not locate the victim. They did find the aforementioned fire truck and the contents of the vehicle.
The most impressive feat was not actually jumping off the bridge. The most impressive feat was the fact that the state of New York had a new bridge, and was able to move the entire pedestrian and bike path across the river, according to the aforementioned authorities. Although no major accidents were reported, the authorities are looking into the matter.
A number of local and state officials were in the water for hours on end, and several of them were involved in the search. Searches were suspended at 1:30 p.m., as weather conditions deteriorated. As for the most important part of the puzzle, the victim’s identity has yet to be revealed. Despite the lack of a definitive answer, investigators are hopeful a reward will soon be handed out to the unlucky duck. However, that remains to be seen.
Although it is not clear that the person in question jumped from the actual mid-Hudson Bridge, the aforementioned fire truck and his personal effects were recovered from the waters below the pedestrian bridge. For those who are curious, the mid-Hudson Bridge carries NY 55 across the Hudson River, and the aforementioned pedestrian and bike path is located on the Poughkeepsie side. Until this mystery is solved, the state of New York is urging motorists to exercise common sense. One thing to keep in mind is that traffic on I-84 is not restricted to the two lane bridge.