Man dies in apparent jump from bridge

5/4/2001

A Toledo man who apparently jumped last night into the Maumee River from the Martin Luther King, Jr., Bridge died in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, authorities said.

The man, who was in his 70s, was pronounced dead about 9:50 p.m. in the hospital's emergency room. His name and address were being withheld pending notification of family, authorities said.

A security guard who works in the Melvin Pelfrey Building, 1 Maritime Plaza, told police he was at the back of the building along the riverfront about 9 p.m. when he heard a splash. He said he looked at the river, and saw the arm of a person sticking out of the water.

The guard called police, who found the man face down in the water about 30 feet from the bank near Water Street. The Toledo fire department's dive team removed the man from water.

Detective Brian Twining said the death is under investigation. He said there were no witnesses who saw the man jump.