Brunswick police say they are still investigating the circumstances that led a man to jump to his death from the Merrymeeting Bridge on Wednesday afternoon.
Brunswick Police Department responded at 2:59 p.m. to the report of a “lone male subject standing on the roof of his vehicle on the northbound ramp onto the Merrymeeting Bridge from Brunswick.”
Officers arrived moments later to find that the male had jumped from his vehicle onto the southbound lane of Route 1. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Brunswick rescue personnel.
“The investigation is ongoing into the circumstances that led to this incident and more information will be released when possible,” according to a press release issued by Brunswick Police Cmdr. Marc Hagan.
Police are attempting to notify family members of the 34-year-old West Bath resident.
The bridge is part of the Route 196 bypass connecting Route 196 in Topsham with Route 1 in Brunswick.
Traffic was backed up a significant distance in both southbound lanes for at least an hour, with all southbound traffic on Route 1 diverted onto Merrymeeting Bridge. The road was opened by 5 p.m.
According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Maine Suicide Prevention Program website: “Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Maine’s young people and the 10th leading cause of death among Mainers of all ages. … For every homicide in Maine, there are seven suicides.”
Between 2010 and 2012, there were 630 suicide deaths in Maine, an average of 210 suicides per year.
According to Maine Suicide Prevention Program: “Suicide deaths, though very tragic, are the tip of the iceberg.
Suicidal behavior among youth is thought to be far higher than in adult populations. It is estimated that there are 25 to 100 suicide attempts by adolescents and young adults for every youth suicide.”
To speak with a trained crisis clinician 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Maine, call Sweetser’s Crisis Services at 1-888-568-1112. If out of state, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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