Petition Pressures Lawmakers To Curb Hoan Bridge Suicides

MILWAUKEE, WI — Many would consider a 20-year-old man fortunate to have law enforcement intervene at a critical moment in his life as he contemplated jumping to his death from Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge in late November.

According to Sheriff's reports, deputies arrived at the scene on the 140-foot-tall bridge on a report of a disabled vehicle. When a deputy approached the vehicle, he saw a man exit his car and lunge for the bridge wall in an attempt to leap over the side. The quick-reacting deputy stopped him, took him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs. He was arrested and transported to a mental health facility.

Petition To Be Sent To Lawmakers

According to a petition that is currently gathering signatures on Change.org, there have been more than 30 people who have managed to jump to their deaths from the Hoan Bridge in the last 15 years.

How to sign

Go to Change.org to sign this petition

The petition, which will be sent to Speaker Paul Ryan, Gov. Scott Walker, the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly and local public officials, is calling for more action to be taken to prevent suicides from Milwaukee's iconic outer-harbor bridge.

According to the anonymous author, the petition calls for increased interventions on the bridge, suicide awareness signs posted in key areas and the possibility of higher safety walls or screens to discourage jumping from the bridge.

According to one poster who left a comment on the petition, "I have been personally affected by Suicide. Studies show that bridge barriers can effectively reduce suicide rates."

Image Via Patch.com File Photo