Suicide From New River Gorge Bridge

Rangers received a call from a local 911 center on the evening of July 14th, reporting that a person had been seen jumping from the New River Gorge Bridge. They were met by county and local police and EMS personnel at the scene, where they found an unattended vehicle with a suicide note inside. They were also contacted by an eyewitness to the event. A search was conducted under the 876-foot-high bridge and the body of a 36-year-old West Virginia man was found in a small creek that feeds the New River.  Other rangers joined in the investigation and recovery. Due to the steep and rugged terrain, the body was carried downstream to the river, where it was taken by boat to Tayes Landing and transferred to an ambulance for transport to the medical examiner. A follow-up investigation will be conducted with the sheriff’s office and with help from the park’s field training staff.