Monroe man, 31, jumped to death from Veterans Skyway

8/31/2013
BLADE STAFF
A person is dead today after apparently jumping from the Veterans Glass City Skyway and landing on the banks of the Maumee River in East Toledo. Initial reports are that the person was involved in a chase with Monroe County authorities. Toledo police and Monroe County authorities are on the scene.
A person is dead today after apparently jumping from the Veterans Glass City Skyway and landing on the banks of the Maumee River in East Toledo. Initial reports are that the person was involved in a chase with Monroe County authorities. Toledo police and Monroe County authorities are on the scene.

A Monroe man was killed Saturday evening when he jumped from the Veterans' Glass City Skyway after crashing a vehicle on the bridge, having been followed into Toledo by Monroe County Sheriff's deputies.

Shane Holey, 31, fell 125 feet to the ground near the Maumee River's east bank between the Skyway and the parallel Craig Memorial Bridge and was pronounced dead at the scene, Toledo police said.

According to the police report, Mr. Holey was reported to Monroe County authorities as a suicidal man with a knife, and a vehicular pursuit began after sheriff's deputies contacted him. A Toledo police cruiser joined in the pursuit after Mr. Holey's cross-over vehicle entered Toledo on Lewis Avenue, then proceeded east on Alexis Road to southbound I-75.

After proceeding onto southbound I-280, police said, Mr. Holey attempted to drive the vehicle off the Skyway, but when it struck the bridge's side wall it did not go over. He then jumped through the vehicle's passenger window and over the side of the bridge.

He landed on rocks several yards from the Maumee's East Toledo bank. The wrecked vehicle remained in the southbound right lane with a Monroe sheriff's cruiser stopped behind it while police investigated the incident. It is the first reported case of anyone jumping or falling from the landmark bridge since its 2007 opening.

Dr. Maneesha Pandey, a deputy Lucas County coroner, said an autopsy will be performed early this week on the body.