Update 4:10 PM:
The Ross Island Bridge is now open to all traffic. The man who was threatening to jump has been taken into custody by police and will be taken to an area hospital.
The Portland Police Bureau sent out a quick alert a few minutes ago about a potentially suicidal person on the Ross Island Bridge. The bridge is closed, so find detours if you normally traverse it around this time of the day. Here’s the release:
This afternoon, Thursday May 5, 2011, at approximately 1:55 p.m., Portland Police responded to the Ross Island Bridge on the report of a man standing on the rail threatening to jump into the Willamette River. Officers arrived on the bridge and began talking with the man. Crisis negotiators are on scene and boats from the Portland Fire Bureau and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in case of a water rescue.
Both directions of the Ross Island Bridge are shut down to all vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic
It’s been going on for a while, so if you’ve been caught in it, or wondered what all the commotion was for, have a little patience and hold tight for updates. And let’s all hope this ends okay.
That’s where I live – I was wondering why all the traffic was backed up. It’s pretty bad over there people, if you are going down the hill from Broadway/405 to Ross Island.. um, don’t… you’ll be sitting there for a long time.
Is it too soon to blame William Melchert-Dinkel? Yeah, too soon. I feel gross. Sorry! Hopes this ends safely.
@Cup: I was waiting for Graham to blame The Decemberists, but I think he was playing nice in hopes of winning COTW. Didn’t work!
HA ha! I think the award for most inappropriate spam comment goes to Kissdress!