Police identify man, say he jumped from Route 28 bridge
A 45-year-old Pittsburgh man died Thursday, Feb. 5, after jumping from the Route 28 bridge near Buffalo Creek Nature Park, police said in a news release.
William I. Tegethoff died of blunt force trauma in multiple areas, according to Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers. A witness saw Tegethoff jump from the bridge over the Buffalo Creek. The incident was ruled a suicide.
“We were unable to make access because he was on the ice, so we called in rope teams and the water rescue team,” said Chief Matt Cypher of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company on Thursday.
Multiple fire companies and the Butler County Water Rescue Team were dispatched in attempts to save the man, but he was found dead at the base of the northern support piers of the bridge, according to state police in Kittanning.
Police said the man had parked his 2013 Lincoln Continental in the middle of the bridge before he jumped.
The incident was reported around 1:30 p.m. at the South Buffalo, Armstrong County location, and emergency crews remained at the scene until about 4:30 p.m.
Volunteer fire and rescue departments from Saxonburg, Harrison Hills and Sarver also responded, as well as Freeport EMS. Traffic on Monroe Road was blocked between South Pike Road and Kepple Road during the attempted rescue.
Anyone with information is requested to contact Trooper Erica Smith with the state police Kittanning Criminal Investigation Unit.
