The search continues for the man who jumped off the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge on New Year’s Day.
According to Chad Hogan of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the search was only scaled back because of rigid temperatures and unsafe conditions on the waterway.
Members of the Jefferson County Marine Unit, whose job is to patrol the Neches River, and the US Coast Guard have continued to work on the search. The sheriff’s office has plans to take an airboat out on the waterway Friday or Saturday depending on the weather conditions.
The search began after the man stopped his van at the top of the bridge and a witness at the scene saw him dive into the cold waters below. He survived the jump and attempted to swim, but the undertow and current pulled him further away from the scene.
An officer arrived at the scene within a few minutes. He immediately called for back-up and for boats to arrive. Officers could only watch as the man was pulled under the surface of the murky water. He was never seen again.
Members of the Coast Guard, Bridge City Fire Department and Texas Parks and Wildlife arrived at the scene to assist. However, instead of a search and rescue, it turned into a “search and recovery.”
The van believed to belong to the man was towed to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and will be held until the he is located. According to Hogan, the contents of the van did not reveal a reason for his attempted suicide.
The man is believed to be a 56 year-old resident of Spicewood. His name is not being released until the victims’ body is recovered and is positively identified. He has a daughter in the Orangefield area and friends in Port Arthur. In addition, he is a Southeast Texas native.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 883-2612.
Debby Schamber is a reporter for the Orange Leader. She can be reached at 409-883-3571 ext. 2609 or at dschamber@orangeleader.com.
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