Bridge jump: search continues for missing [Cambodian?] man

January 2, 2009
Arjun Ramachandran
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

Police divers this morning are searching the Hawkesbury River for the body of a man who jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge on New Year's Eve, moments before police prevented a woman and two children from also jumping.

The search resumed about 6.30am after a day-long search yesterday failed to find him, a police spokesman said.

Police helicopters as well as land and water police would also take part in today's search, he said.

The man leapt from the bridge into the river about 9.45am on Wednesday after police noticed a blue Toyota Camry travelling slowly on the F3 freeway.

The driver, believed to be aged 40, got out of the car and jumped 20 metres into the river from the bridge railing, police said.

Two officers quickly grabbed a 39-year-old woman as she also climbed on the railing, dragging her back to safety before intercepting a nine-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy as they also climbed on the railing.

Police are yet to speak to the woman and children, as they were still in hospital, the police spokesman said.

"I imagine there would be shock and other issues they are dealing with," he said.

"Once they are OK the critical incident investigation officers would be seeking a chat with them [to try to understand why the man jumped]."

with AAP

Suicide family [from Cambodia] coaxed from bridge

January 02, 2009
By Gemma Jones
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia)

THE wife and children of a man who jumped to his death off a bridge on the F3 had to be coaxed by police off the outer railing after he leaped.

Police officers following the Cabramatta family's car on the Brooklyn Bridge probably prevented a murder-suicide on New Year's Eve by talking the woman and two children down from the bridge's edge.

Officers were too late to save their husband and father, whose body has still not been found.

It was unclear if the children had been coerced by their father to follow him over the 20m drop to almost certain death about 9.30am on Wednesday.

Police are investigating whether the children may have been drugged before their father drove them - extremely slowly - north along the F3 to the bridge.

"Two officers acted quickly to grab a 39-year-old woman as she also climbed to the outside railing and drag her back to safety,'' a police spokeswoman said yesterday.

"Police also intercepted a girl aged 9 and boy aged 7 as they too climbed the bridge railing.''

Superintendent Peter Marcon praised the officers for preventing a bigger tragedy and for their quick thinking in securing a boat to begin a search for the man.

"The officers acted quickly to avert a far more serious situation on the bridge, then were in a boat searching for the missing man only minutes after he jumped,'' he said.

"The officers involved will be commended for their actions.''

The mother and children, who are believed to be from Cambodia, were treated at Hornsby Hospital.

Police needed interpreters to speak with the mother.

Authorities will resume a search of the Hawkesbury River today.

An underwater search was called off at 10.30am yesterday because of strong currents, while Polair and State Emergency Service personnel continued searching for an hour.

"We do not hold out much chance for his survival,'' Inspector Steve Martlew said.

Murder-suicide jump suspicion

Murder-suicide suspicion ... police are still investigating the incident were a man jumped from the Hawkesbury River Bridge yesterday. (Photograph: Gary Graham)

January 01, 2009
By Kara Lawrence and Brooke Newstead
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia)

A DRIVER who leapt from the Hawkesbury River Bridge in front of a woman passenger and two children yesterday may have been planning a murder-suicide.

Police are investigating whether the children may have been drugged when the man ran from his car and jumped after he spotted police.

A woman passenger in the car also climbed the railing but was rescued by police. There is no suggestion the woman was involved in any plot to kill the children.

Police driving along the F3 became stuck in a line of traffic caused by the car as it was driven slowly towards the bridge about 9.30am.

As they followed, the car slowed to a stop and the male Asian driver, 40, from Cabramatta, left the car and jumped off the bridge.

His 43-year-old female Asian passenger also climbed the railing and there were fears she too would jump. She was taken to be interviewed by police, along with the boy and girl, aged between 10 and 12, who had remained in the back seat of the car when the man jumped.

A critical incident investigation team will be set up to decide whether officers averted a potential murder-suicide. A search failed to find the man's body yesterday. Superintendent Shane White said the man was last seen floating west.

"We have an interpreter assisting us with our conversations with the woman,'' Superintendent White said.

She and the two children were taken by police to Hornsby police station, where they remained until about 3pm. They emerged looking distressed, the two children clutching teddy bears, as all three were led by a paramedic to a waiting ambulance.

The three were taken to Hornsby Hospital for treatment. An RTA Traffic Emergency Patrol officer drove the man's car to a nearby boat-ramp car park.

The car, containing rubbish and bags of clothing in the boot, was then towed to a holding yard in Hornsby for forensic investigation. Police and emergency services launched a search for the man, but failed to find him.

"The search has been by foot, by water and by air,'' Supt White said.

Police were aided by a NSW Ambulance helicopter and boat, Coastal Patrol boats, and State Emergency Services boats.

"The matter is subject to a police investigation. Whether it is a matter for the coroner is yet to be confirmed,'' Supt White said.

The search for the man will resume at 6.30am today. Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the car as it travelled north on the bridge or who have relevant information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.