DSP News Release: Barkers Landing Bridge Jumper Search and Investigation   

Location: 

• Barkers Landing Bridge, Bay Road, Dover, DE

Date of Occurrence:

·         Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 9:06 a.m.

Victim:

·         Unidentified male

Resume:

Dover-The Delaware State Police are investigating an incident where an unidentified man jumped from the Barkers Landing Bridge, earlier this morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:06 a.m. this morning when Troopers responded to Bay Road southbound on the Barkers Landing Bridge for a male subject that was observed sitting on the side of the bridge by passing motorists.  Troopers responded to the bridge and made contact with the male victim who threatened to jump from the bridge.  The victim then proceeded to jump from the bridge and fell to the Saint Jones River.  Troopers initially observed the victim floating above the water for a short period of time and then submerged.

An initial search and rescue operation (SAR) was launched with numerous agencies to include the Delaware State Police Aviation Helicopter Trooper 4, Delaware State Police SCUBA Team, rescue boats from Volunteer Fire Companies and DNREC.

After an extensive search by land, air, and water, the victim was not located, and the SAR operation was terminated at approximately 3:00 p.m.    

Search and recovery operations are scheduled to resume tomorrow morning (Monday, November 21, 2011)

Released: 112011 1830