Although no witnesses saw the incident, troopers believe the man jumped off the bridge at approximately 1:25 a.m.
His body was taken to the Montgomery County morgue and the Warren County Coroner’s Office conducted an autospy Tuesday, according to the patrol. Warren County Coroner’s Office Investigator Doyle Burke said an autopsy revealed he died from blunt-force trauma.
Construction workers at the job site of the roughly $88-million project scheduled for completion in November 2015, notified troopers of a possible disabled vehicle parked in the safety area of the bridge at which time troopers found the keys locked inside.
After searching the area, troopers found the man’s body on the gravel road at the base of the bridge.
Troopers are trained to check the area quickly when an unattended vehicle is found near the steel twin truss bridge that spans the river along I-71. The bridge is 239 feet above the Little Miami River, and has been the site of several suicides in the past.
This death is the seventh time in nine years a person has taken his own life from jumping off the bridge, according to the Warren County Coroner’s Office.
The new bridge being constructed will have no catwalks, one aspect appreciated by Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Mike Sanders, Lebanon post commander, and Sgt. Clint Arnold. Catwalks were often used as a launching off point for those who decided to jump to their deaths, troopers said during an April tour of the construction site.
Staff Writer Ed Richter contributed to this report.
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