After a guy who had scaled a bridge tower the night before finally dropped, the Hawthorne Bridge was once again accessible to traffic on Friday morning.
Around 5 p.m. on Thursday, the man scaled the west tower toward the 400-ton counterweight mechanism on the bridge’s downtown end, halting all traffic below as the workday came to an end.
In an attempt to make contact, police and firefighters quickly arrived and left the man a telephone. Though they claimed to be utilizing the time to defuse the issue and find a safe solution, officers wearing safety harnesses managed to go high enough to speak with the man.
Over 100 feet above the Willamette River, the man spent 16 hours in the air.
Around 9:15 a.m. Friday, after a cold night on the windy platform, the man was spotted stretching for his own descent. He was taken into custody by two patrol cars that zipped onto the span.
Although they said he was in custody, authorities refused to immediately name the individual. Although first responders first stated they thought he was in distress, it is unclear why he climbed the bridge.
Help is available if you or someone you know is thinking of ending their life. For discreet, round-the-clock assistance, text or call 988 or go to 988lifeline.org.
For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Zane Sparling reports on court proceedings and breaking news. You may contact him at [email protected], 503-319-7083, or pdxzane.
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