Passersby Talk to Suicidal Man Rescued from Bay Bridge: Update

• Updated at 7:15 p.m.

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A man threatening to jump off eastbound Chesapeake Bay Bridge was rescued from a rail Thursday morning by Anne Arundel County firefighters, who had help from bystanders.

Traffic was backed up while all traffic was shut down heading east for about two hours.

Authorities found a parked pickup truck on the bridge span, then located the man hanging on a rail, media reports say.

Jason Hayes, a passerby who saw the man on the bridge railing, talked to him to try to keep him from jumping. Also working to prevent a death was Lt. Kevin Brenner of Queen Anne's County Fire Rescue, who was on his way to work. Brenner used his portable radio to call for extra help to prevent the suicide.

Hayes and Brenner told NBC Washington they spoke to the suicidal man for more than 45 minutes until Anne Arundel County Fire and Rescue lowered a firefighter down to the man.

The rescuer gave the man a big hug, which seemed to make all the difference.

"That hug really ... actually, you can see it on the picture ... it was amazing to see the compassion from people who didn't know each other. It was something," Hayes said.

Firefighters pulled the man and his rescuer to safety using a rope harness.

The Capital-Gazette reported the man was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation, but he was not injured, officials said.

The incident snarled traffic at the start of the holiday weekend when 377,000 vehicles are expected to cross the Bay Bridge.

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To avoid major traffic delays, MDTA suggests leaving for vacation before 2 p.m. Thursday, or traveling in the morning or late evening.

And it’s crucial to travel at off-peak times when heading to and from the Eastern Shore. The MDTA says the best times to travel the Bay Bridge this weekend are:

• Thursday/Friday: Before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
• Saturday: Before 7 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
• Sunday/Monday: Before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.

Check traffic conditions before you hit the road:

• Call 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726) for 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic conditions.
• Visit baybridge.com to view traffic cameras and to sign up for email alerts.
• Follow the MDTA at twitter.com/TheMDTA and facebook.com/TheMDTA.
• Ease your travel with E-ZPass. Visit ezpassmd.com to enroll online and for a list of E-ZPass “On the Go” retail locations.
• Know Before You Go - To view traffic cameras on MDTA roadways, visit mdta.maryland.gov. Call 511 or visit MD511.org for statewide travel information.