'Miracle' Kids Survive Father's Deadly Leap Off I-287, Holding His 2 Children

A 1-year-old boy has a bruised lung and his 3-year-old brother has a concussion after they survived a 100-foot jump off a New Jersey highway overpass on Monday night — while holding their father's hand — police said.

The father was killed, and his two children are expected to survive, according to the state police. John Spincken, 37, of Pequannock was holding his 3-year-old and 1-year-old sons when he jumped from the Wanaque Bridge on Interstate 287 Monday evening, according to state police.

The father jumped in Wanaque after an apparent domestic dispute that involved police. The father allegedly threatened to harm the kids, and the mother contacted police. Police followed him and then traced him through his cell phone provider, police said.

"It's nothing short of a miracle," Capt. Christopher Depuyt of the Pequannock Police Department told reporters, saying the father may have climbed on top of a car to make the jump.

Here is a picture of the overpass:

The incident happened around 8:08 p.m. before troopers were dispatched to the area after a report of a possibly suicidal man jumping into the Wanaque River with two children, according to police.

Troopers and local police were dispatched in an attempt to locate them. While assisting with the search, Wanaque Police were able to locate the father's car on southbound Interstate 287 at milepost 56.4 in Wanaque Township, police said.

Wanaque Police officers were able to locate Spincken and his two children in a wooded area near the Wanaque River, police said.

Spincken was pronounced deceased at the scene at 9 p.m. The two children were treated by Wanaque EMS before they were taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson, police said. There, they are being treated for serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives have determined that the father intentionally jumped with his two children. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

We'll have more information on this story as it develops.

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