57 Replies to "West Seattle Bridge reopened after tragic end to 4-hour talks"

• Barbara August 27, 2011 (10:15 pm)

  They are opening the bridge to eastbound traffic. Just came off the bridge westbound

• Jsee August 27, 2011 (10:18 pm)

  There are at least 10 cop cars (& more arriving) and a lot of cops wandering around and looking over the edge.

  • WSB August 27, 2011 (10:29 pm)

    Barbara, they most definitely still have the bridge closed. You can tell from the bridge cameras as well. Eastbound (away from West Seattle), anyway.

• Alki resident August 27, 2011 (10:24 pm)

  I hope they didnt jump,I hate hearing about this stuff.

• KoWS August 27, 2011 (10:26 pm)

  We drove by about 10:10 and there was one police car and what appeared to be one person in a motorcycle helmet standing near the front of the car. The cop was behind his car talking with the person. Both were leaning against the concrete barrier on the south side facing the water.

• rockhills August 27, 2011 (10:29 pm)

  Police cars on the west bound side as well. Two lanes are open wb but lookieloos are slowing traffic.

• Meg Coil August 27, 2011 (10:43 pm)

  Eastbound bridge is still closed at 10:40pm.

• Omar August 27, 2011 (10:43 pm)

  Just came over the bridge westbound. It appeared that a motorcylcist stopped and was sitting on the side of the bridge. Eastbound backed up badly at the fire station under the bridge. 10:30ish

• Mary T August 27, 2011 (10:50 pm)

  Oh, no. : ( Good thoughts to them.

• CMeagh August 27, 2011 (10:51 pm)

  Just drove by going westbound at 10:40. It appeared to be several police at distance talking with a man who appeared to be standing over the side of the barrier. Really hope police are able to help this person.

• Traci August 27, 2011 (10:51 pm)

  Weird that it’s the Eastbound side, I drove by at around 9:45pm going West and noticed a person on the Westbound side leaning on the railing facing the water. I hoped that they were just waiting for someone to come give them a ride because their motorcycle broke down.

• Ethan&MK August 27, 2011 (10:52 pm)

  Just crossed from downtown. East bound lanes still closed and person still on ledge. Sad.

• Mac August 27, 2011 (10:54 pm)

  Just drove westbound and all eastbound traffic is still closed with about 12 police vehicles and cops looking over the side.

  • WSB August 27, 2011 (10:57 pm)

    Thanks. We will update whenever there’s something to report – we are both monitoring scanner traffic and watching traffic cameras – you can tell from this one: http://www.seattle.gov/trafficcams/images/WS_Bridgedeck_East.jpg
    .
    that there’s both an officer blocking inside westbound lane, and that no traffic is going through on eastbound side – TR

• Michael August 27, 2011 (11:14 pm)

  We just came over the bridge west bound. Everything east bound is still closed. It seemed to be a motorcycle and a car at the top of the bridge. Everyone on the top of the bridge were looking over the edge.

• Beth August 27, 2011 (11:22 pm)

  Oh no. Keeping good thoughts that nothing bad (or awful) has happened. +

• Shirley August 27, 2011 (11:25 pm)

  Eastbound on WS bridge is still closed. Cannot see police on top of the bridge but no activity.

• Alkidoc August 27, 2011 (11:26 pm)

  About 15 officers looking over the edge – got through about 11pm westbound. Harbor and avalon backlogged due to eastbound shutdown

• Michelle August 27, 2011 (11:34 pm)

  Came over bridge approx. 10:45pm. Didn’t look good. Lot’s of people leaning over barrier looking down over bridge. Many police officers off to side conversing. Hope it wasn’t too late to save a life but situation really did not look promising. Hopefully someone was able to reach out tonight and make a difference for someone. Our thoughts and wishful prayers go out to everyone involved.

• LyndaB August 27, 2011 (11:48 pm)

  I am praying that this situation resolves with good news.

• Stacy August 27, 2011 (11:55 pm)

  Still blocked off as we just drove over bridge.

• Jana August 28, 2011 (12:04 am)

  Heartbroken and praying for this man, if he still lives, his friends and his family. Have mercy on his soul King Jesus. How very, very sad. :'(

• Jenn August 28, 2011 (12:06 am)

  We drove westbound around 11:50pm and the eastbound lanes were still closed. The cops were gathered in a half circle facing someone not in uniform.

• stacy August 28, 2011 (12:12 am)

  just drove by westbound on bridge and still closed off eastbound with multiple officers looking over bridge.

• EE August 28, 2011 (1:21 am)

  It’s still closed going eastbound as of 1am.

• Trick August 28, 2011 (1:40 am)

  At 1:30am, police on 35th lighting more flares. Still closed eastbound.

• Richard August 28, 2011 (1:44 am)

  Still clossed 1:40am…

• Richard August 28, 2011 (1:45 am)

  There are about 10 police cars and the large mobile command center and they are still looking over the side of the bridge!

  • WSB August 28, 2011 (2:08 am)

    thanks, Richard, we heard the dispatch to bring the “mobile precinct” and, having not yet driven by all this, we wondered what they were doing with it.

• Drummer Man August 28, 2011 (2:15 am)

  My GF just tried to take the bridge eastbound and still shut down. Anyone know the status of the jumper? Hope he/she decided to stay with us a while longer.

  • WSB August 28, 2011 (2:57 am)

    Unfortunately, it sounds like the person went ahead and jumped/fell.

• John August 28, 2011 (2:56 am)

  Still closed 2:56am incident mobile van is on bridge

• Traci August 28, 2011 (3:03 am)

  That is so, so sad.

• littlebrowndog August 28, 2011 (3:46 am)

  And we continue cutting funding for publicly-funded mental health services and unemployed people keep losing the insurance benefits that might have included mental health treatment….

• mehud7 August 28, 2011 (7:37 am)

  Very sad, makes me wonder how effective the barriers are on the Aurora Bridge…

• monroe1200 August 28, 2011 (8:28 am)

  mehud7 – The barriers on Aurora seem to be working, but what that does is push people to jump from other high structures (W.S Bridge). People will always find a means to an end, so I have to agree with littlebrowndog that we need to fund our mental health services better.
  -RIP fellow human-

• ikahana August 28, 2011 (8:56 am)

  Counted at least ten police vehicles (both sides of the bridge) and saw the motorcycle on my way home last night. Had a horrible feeling this is what was happening. So sad to hear how it ended. My heart goes out to family and friends.

• Beth August 28, 2011 (9:05 am)

  This is awful news. So sad that things become so seemingly -unfixable- that hurting yourself or comitting suicide seems to be the only way out. I pray for the family and the officers who tried to help save a life. +

• LyndaB August 28, 2011 (9:07 am)

  What sad news. I recently read an article in Seattle metropolitan about the aurora bridge. It really opened my eyes about suicides and the controversy about what it took to get the fence up there (saving lives versus historical preservation of the bridge). In this article, one person still took the their while the fence was nearing its completion.

• metrognome August 28, 2011 (9:49 am)

  i hope this person’s troubled soul is able to find peace.
  mehud7 — my thought as well, altho I also wondered if the WSBridge will see these events more often because of the fence on the Aurora Bridge.

• Jodi August 28, 2011 (9:52 am)

  So sad. God rest his soul.

• westseattledood August 28, 2011 (9:55 am)

  Godspeed to those who tried to help this person and the loved ones.

• Sybil August 28, 2011 (10:08 am)

  Oh god. That is so sad and awful. We passed the scene last night and I was so very much hoping it would was going to end well.

• xo August 28, 2011 (10:51 am)

  This is very sad and tragic. I would say however to expect more on this bridge because since the Aurora bridge got its expensive ‘suicide fencing’ this bridge is now much more available to people who are intent on taking their lives in this way. My brother committed suicide so I am very sensitive to the topic. I found that if they are intent on doing it they will do it no matter who tries to intervene. I know SPD did a valiant job though and they should be commended no matter what.

• Ms Pam August 28, 2011 (10:55 am)

  What a horrible thing to have happened! This person so overwhelmed, taking his/her own life! They now have to be in a better place than here. I believe we are going to see more of this kind of thing with the cuts of coverage for medical/mental health issues! As a society we need to offer better opportunities to help those who need it most! Bless this lost soul!…

• coffee August 28, 2011 (10:55 am)

  Current stats are 1 in 3 people suffer from a mental heath issue. I recently learned this while in medical care myself. That is lots of people with issues of some sort. Because of helpful people I did not realize that I was one of those 1 of 3 people.

• S August 28, 2011 (1:36 pm)

  This is such sad news. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. Depression is horrible. I have been in this man’s state of mind before, I wanted life over.Its not fun. When you can’t seem to find a way out from what is troubling you and you feel trapped. I was lucky and was able to get help for my depression…Sad that he wasn’t. :( I hope he is able to find his peace now. Goddess bless him.

• Ondrea Watson August 28, 2011 (1:38 pm)

  My thoughts and players go out to the person’s family and friends.
  The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention ids having their annual Out of the Darkness walk in Seattle this year on Oct. 1 st. Please take a moment to check out their organization and what they do. My team, Team Watson, will be walking for the 2 nd year now in memory of my father. I hope that more people will join the walk this year and help those affected by suicide.

• Jiggers August 28, 2011 (2:24 pm)

  Real sad..I thought my life was upside down. Pretty soon they’ll have to block off all walkable entry ways to the bridge. I guess there was no other angle that negotiating police could talk the person out of suicide or physically intervene.

• Mike August 28, 2011 (6:14 pm)

  Terrible to see another soul depart this way. I feel deeply for those he left behind. One clarification: the fence on the Aurora Bridge is not intended to reduce suicides. It is aimed at preventing suicides at that location, where jumping poses serious risks for people and property below. It will not be surprising to see an increase in jumpers on the West Seattle high bridge.

• Me To August 28, 2011 (9:23 pm)

  S – Thank you for your words. Your experience is mine, twice over.
  –
  When these type of tragic and sad events happen I sit down and listen to this Bruce Cockburn song titled Closer To The Light. It helps me.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDIaVyXNR5Y
  –
  There you go
  Swimming deeper into mystery
  Here I remain
  Only seeing where you used to be
  Stared at the ceiling
  ‘Til my ears filled up with tears
  Never got to know you
  Suddenly you’re out of here

  Gone from mystery into mystery
  Gone from daylight into night
  Another step deeper into darkness
  Closer to the light

  Walked outside
  Summer moon was nearly down
  Mist on the fields
  Holy stillness all around
  Death’s no stranger
  No stranger than the life I’ve seen
  Still I cry
  Still I begged to get you back again

  Gone from mystery into mystery
  Gone from daylight into night
  Another step deeper into darkness
  Closer to the light

• Dan August 29, 2011 (2:13 pm)

  it’s looking like this is slowing catching on at being the new Aurora Bridge. Put up multi-million dollar fences and they’ll simply find another location to make it happen. Thus reason I was soo apposed to the Aurora fence.

• Christine Lindquist August 29, 2011 (4:43 pm)

  Please know that there are resources available for people with depression who are feeling suicidal.

  NAMI Greater Seattle offers many support groups. Our complete support group calendar is available at http://www.nami-greaterseattle.org/sites/default/files/September%20-%20October%20Support%20Groups%202011.pdf We laso have free classes for consumers and family members of individuals with mental illness.

  The King County Crisis Clinic is an excellent resource, as well. You can talk to someone 24 hours a day at 206-461-3222.

  If you need help yourself, know that you are not alone. Connect with friends, family, support groups, therapy, whatever it takes to get you into the next day.

  If you know someone who is suicidal, reach out and let them know you care. Help them connect with the resources they need.

• cap karen August 31, 2011 (2:01 pm)

  I know the woman who jumped to her death. She was bi-polar, scitsehifrieia. sp? @ suffered from many demons. She was a beautiful, classy, loving, articulate 49 year old woman. I cant imagine living without her loving touch@ beautiful smile. She will be missed by many. She was in touch with the system that failed her when she was at the end of her rope. Jefferson Mental Health. In @ oout of the hospital for suiside watch. I tryed to help her@ she ran into a situation on the evening of August 27 At a home in Quilcene Where she was drugged@ raped@ even tryed to burn down that house where it happened. She then went to other friends home where she was distrought@ was afraid they were going to kill her. she called me sat @ told me what had happened@ i gasp when i heard the story, she thought i laughed@ hung up on me. I tryed desperately to get in touch @she shut the phone off. I never heard from her again. To bad when she was on that ledge no one called me. I will will tell the proper authorities my story but the savage men who drove this women to her death know who u are@ justice will be swift. lisa my lover, my friend god speed that u come back as an angel inside little forest, Our pomeraien dog.. We will sail away.. treasure hunting@ i will alway love u..so long my sweet!

• cap karen August 31, 2011 (2:31 pm)

  i know your hurting kyle..please know i love u too@ if u need anything u can call me! i will be your mom if u need advice or just to talk! dont do anything stupid! I have no way of contacting u but u need to call the coroners office. Call kelly so we can make propper arraingement for lisa! The number is 253-529-3756. love always! karen

• Brianna September 5, 2011 (2:44 am)

  Karen–

  You don’t know me, but I used to be with Kyle for a while, and knew Lisa pretty well… and Kyle is kinda difficult to get a hold of sometimes, as it seems you know. So I was just wondering if you knew any information on a possible memorial service for Lisa, cause I would love to come and pay my respects..

  Thank you if you end up seeing this and getting back to me..

  -Brianna

• "Barbie" September 17, 2011 (11:48 am)

  HOPE THIS BLOG CAN BE OF HELP! Right now, everyone must clear out their heads & bodies & just chill & pray to the Almighty creator. I’ve known my dear friend Lisa on & off since we were 13. When we were together, she was a sober, kind, heterosexual,(as if that even matters) & classy female. She was very loving & people often mistook her kindness for a weakness. I saw her & spoke w/ her that fatal Saturday & she was not in her right mind. I know for a fact that she’d been violated terribly. I believe that she’s in Heaven w/ the Lord & will come to each of us, individually, when the time is right. Be strong now for her,ok? I spoke to her sis yesterday~ there is an upcoming memorial planned. Stay tuned on here for more info & updates. Now PLEASE, everyone: re-assess your own lives & try to stay away from imbibing in anything which produces feelings of euphoria that is chemical. Lisa, her sister, & I would really appreciate that. LOVE!

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