Man Jumps From Santa Margarita Parkway Bridge, is in Critical Condition

A man's suicide attempt off the Santa Margarita Bridge on Sunday morning has, for moment, failed. However, the 21-year-old remains in critical condition after surviving the fall, more than 60 feet, into O'Neill Regional Park about 9:30 a.m.

The victim was seen by witnessess walking on the bridge when he suddenly jumped, according to Lt. Brian Schmutz, the chief of Rancho Santa Margarita police services.

Orange County Sheriff Deputies responded to a call made at 9:28 a.m., and shut down traffic in both directions for about 15 minutes while a medical helicopter landed in the creek bed to transport the victim. The bridge spans Trabuco Creek.

He was airlifted to Mission Hospital. Schmutz said the last update was that the man had suffered possible brain damage, a collapsed lung and numerous broken bones.

It is the second time in two months that there has been a potential suicide on the bridge., a Trabuco Canyon man—also 21, but not the same man—was talked out of jumping by local deputy Joses Walehwa and crisis negotiator Sgt. Angel Andrade for which they were

There have been six deaths at the bridge. The first two were accidental when victims jumped over the side thinking there was a landing on the other side of the railing. The other four were suicides, the most recent on Aug. 4, 2010, the second suicide in a four-month period.