Man dies after jumping from bridge near Bellingham’s Waypoint Park
A 41-year-old man died after jumping from an overpass near Waypoint Park in Bellingham Saturday evening, July 4.
Police were called to the 300 block of Roeder Avenue at 5:08 p.m. Saturday for the report that a person jumped off an overpass and died, according to the Bellingham Police Department incident log.
Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email that she was unaware of any road closures while police investigated the death and provided the man’s age and gender.
A Fourth of July event and protest against systemic racism put on by a Black-led organization was being held at the time near Waypoint Park. Music was stopped as several police, fire and ambulance trucks entered the park under Roeder Avenue to respond to the incident, and Skai Johnson, one of the organizers, told the crowd that first responders were there for a medical emergency near the West Chestnut Street bridge that was not associated with the event.
Resources
Lt. Claudia Murphy of the Bellingham Police Department recommends if people in the United States find themselves or a friend in crisis or emotional distress that they call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at any time at 800-273-TALK (8255). For more information about the Lifeline, visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
