Witnesses saw a man jump from the Gen. Edwards Bridge into the water but never saw him resurface, officials said.
View full sizeDivers search the water under the Gen. Edwards Bridge for a man who was seen jumping off the bridge just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. A Springfield fire department truck is parked on the bridge and a fire department rescue boat can be seen in the backgroundSPRINGFIELD - Springfield police and fire officials and members of the Massachusetts State Police dive team are searching Watershops Pond near Roosevelt Avenue for a man who was seen jumping into the water from the General Edwards Bridge but never resurfaced, a fire official said.
Police received a 911 call at 12:44 p.m. for reports of a man jumping off the bridge, which is located at Roosevelt Avenue and Alden Streets near Springfield College, said Springfield Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger.
Several witnesses, including the wife of a police officer, saw a man in a blue shirt and checkered shorts jump off the water, he said. None of the people who were down by the water however reported seeing anyone in the water or climbing to shore, he said.
The Springfield Police dive team and then the state police dive team responded to the area and and searching the bottom for the man, Leger said.
Police and firefighters are also searching the shoreline and using a boat to investigate along the surface downstream.