State police divers, firefighters from Springfield and Ludlow, resume search for body of man who jumped into Chicopee River

Witnesses saw the man jump off the Putts Bridge at about 3:15 p.m.

UPDATE, 4 p.m., : The search was discontinued Wednesday afternoon and will resume Thursday morning with members of the Massachusetts State Police underwater recovery unit, officials said.

UPDATE, 11:00 a.m.: Divers entered the river around 10 a.m., with members of the Ludlow Fire Department participating in the search from a boat. As of 11 a.m., emergency personnel had not located the missing man.

LUDLOW - State police divers, aided by firefighters from Ludlow and Springfield, will stage at the Chicopee River Wednesday morning to search for the body of a man who jumped into the Chicopee River Tuesday afternoon.

Ludlow Fire Capt. John Moll said the divers and other rescue personnel will meet near the Putts Bridge that connects Indian Orchard to Ludlow at about 9 a.m.

Fire departments from at least three communities searched for about two hours after hearing reports that a person jumped at about 3:15 p.m. from the east side of the Putts Bridge that connects Indian Orchard to Ludlow.

At least four witnesses saw the person jump off the bridge. He was swept underneath because of the current, Dennis Leger, aide to Springfield Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said.

1-9-13 - Ludlow - A witness to the incident, left, who declined to give his name, returned Wednesday morning to offer information to police. "I just hope they find him alive," he said.

Greg Saulmon / The Republican




 

Ludlow fire and police departments combed one side of the river and Springfield firefighters searched from the other side. Several Springfield firefighters waited on the banks of the river in wetsuits in case the person was spotted, Leger said.

The Ludlow Fire Department responded with an engine, the ambulance and its boat. Firefighters were able to launch the boat into the water despite the ice, but were unable to locate any victims, Fire Capt. Joseph Crowley said.

Massachusetts State Police also assisted with a team of trained dogs and searched the river from above with a helicopter, he said.

Chicopee firefighters also responded. The city’s dive team launched a boat downstream in the water as well, fire officials said.

The identity of the person who jumped and is now presumed drowned was not known, Leger said.

Police closed the bridge for more than an hour while the search was being conducted. It was re-opened at about 4:30 p.m., Ludlow police said.