When you live along the river, you know something is up when first responders rush down the street toward the boat launch. But that is a rare event in March. Today, sadly, the Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad team had the unfortunate job, along with several other first responder organizations from Bucks, Hunterdon, and Mercer counties, of searching the river for a person who ended their life by jumping off the Lambertville Toll Bridge (Rt 202).
Chief William “Buddy” Tunnicliffe reported to MercerMe: “Station 53 (Titusville) and Station 50 (Hopewell) provided all three of our marine units in assisting Hunterdon and Bucks County partners in the search efforts to locate the individual. Marine 53 provided side scan sonar operations that is equipped on the marine unit to try and help locate the individual below the water surface. The other two marine units searched below the wing dam, which would be downstream of the incident.
“All units operated for several hours in rescue and recovery efforts. The scene was eventually turned over the the State Police and our operations with Bucks County and Hunterdon County had ceased operations in the early afternoon. No recovery has been made at this time.”
The New Hope Free Press reported that the incident began around 9:40am.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline1-800-273-TALK (8255). (Thanks Theresa Miller for the reminder) or text 988 (thanks to Lorraine Applebaum and Marie Verna for this information).
Edited 3/6/24 to remove the photo of the rescue boat at the request of the purported photographer. The photo was taken and credited as such from the Lambertville Life Facebook page, where no information about its source was given.
