Search continues: Person reportedly jumped from high-level I-95 bridge

Ian Lenahan, Portsmouth Herald
·2 min read
1

PORTSMOUTH — Search and rescue crews are again searching the Piscataqua River Thursday to locate a person who reportedly jumped off the Portsmouth side of the high-level Interstate 95 bridge yesterday.

A passing motorist notified New Hampshire State Police at 10:05 a.m. Wednesday they had witnessed a person climb over the bridge's metal railing and jump into the water. State police are leading the active investigation but have not released an identity of the person who reportedly jumped from the bridge.

New Hampshire State Police and local police and fire and rescue personnel were investigating in the area of the high-level Piscataqua River Bridge on Interstate 95 between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
New Hampshire State Police and local police and fire and rescue personnel were investigating in the area of the high-level Piscataqua River Bridge on Interstate 95 between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

“We do not have the identity confirmed. We believe we know who it is but we’re not releasing that as of this time,” state police Troop A Staff Sgt. Thomas Conlon said Thursday.

New Hampshire Marine Patrol will be out on the water Thursday searching for the person, as will the U.S. Coast Guard, according to state police Staff Sgt. Irwin Malilay.

Malilay was uncertain about a timeline for how long Marine Patrol might be out on the water Thursday.

“There’s several factors with that, and also the weather,” he said. “The weather today is not ideal. There’s quite heavy fog out there so it all depends. Safety for all of our boats and all of our crew is paramount.”

Coast Guard Northern New England Sector Lt. Commander Ryan Koroknay did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning.

The Piscataqua River is known as one of the fastest-moving waterways in the United States.

Emergency personnel from the New Hampshire State Police, Portsmouth Police Department, New Hampshire Fish and Game, New Hampshire Marine Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the area of the Piscataqua River Bridge on Wednesday. Local fire and rescue and police officials from Newington and Kittery, Maine additionally assisted in the search.

Responders were spread out along the river Wednesday searching for the missing person. Law enforcement operated an overwater drone from Patterson Lane in Newington, while other authorities were present at the Atlantic Heights neighborhood in Portsmouth and at an Eliot, Maine boat launch.

This story may be updated.

If you need help

The National Alliance on Mental Illness - New Hampshire offers the following resources to those in distress:

  • NH Rapid Response Access Point – Call/Text 1-833-710-6477 – If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff. You’ll be served by compassionate providers from mental health centers in your community who can help you access vital resources in an emergency.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (Chat option is also available at 988lifeline.org).

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Search continues: Jump reported from I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge