Edhat Staff
Update by the edhat staff
A man has died after jumping off the Cold Spring Bridge on Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley area on Sunday morning.
Around 11:15 a.m., California Highway Patrol received a report of a younger male on the bridge. The callers stated they were self-initiating traffic control until emergency crews could arrive.
Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to the area of the bridge and below on Stagecoach Road.
The body of a 20-year-old man was found beneath the bridge, reports County Fire Captain Scott Safechuck.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the victim as Jiaxi Ma of Irvine, Ca.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of harming themselves, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 available 24/7 or visit https://988lifeline.org/
Originally Reported by JB86
Suicide at ColdSprings bridge at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.
Shortly after 11:00 am today, 911 received calls about a possible jumper on the Cold Springs Bridge, the subject described as male Asian carrying a tennis racket and loitering on the bridge on the eastbound side. One caller stated he was ‘climbing.’
Sheriffs Deputies, AMR, CHP and County Fire were dispatched Code 3, but before anyone could get to the scene the person had climbed the fence and jumped, landing in the middle of Paradise Road. This occurred at approximately 11:15 am. Sheriff’s Deputies arriving on scene confirmed that the individual was 11-44 at 11:30 am.
The victim’s vehicle, a black Honda Odyessy, was found just off of the bridge on 154.
The idea that we can reduce suicide by avoiding the topic is absurd. It is also questionable that we can reduce suicide by making it more difficult. Didn’t we spend million$ on netting the bridge for this purpose? Those who are determined to end this life can find multiple ways to accomplish it. Yes, we must provide intervention and counseling and hope that rational acts can discourage or overcome the suicide urge. But in the end it is the decision of the actor, not society, that will out.
No, you’ve misunderstood. It is not about avoiding the topic of suicide prevention, it is the media coverage of suicides. You can stomp your feet all you want, but it is a scientific fact.
VOICE – lol nice try. Your analogy of suicide and gun violence is as vacuous as your logic.
Suicide stems from deep rooted, ever present mental issues. Gun violence can be accidental or spontaneous, such that without the presence of a gun nearby, the violence would not have happened or have been limited to a less lethal method. That, among MANY OTHER differences…..
Not going to dignify your comparing the two any further.
You missed it entirely Sac.
Nope, you’re lazy logic was/is on full display. This is how you roll. You make some absurd analogy/claim/troll, then when anyone counters it, you refuse to engage but instead dismiss it as “simply false” or “missed it entirely” with nothing more. Nothing more from the Head Chef at Nothing Grill.
Oh look – the self-proclaimed arbiter of reality is back. Hold my pocket.
Hey, Sac, been too busy with work to comment here for a bit but to close our discussion on the conflict in Gaza and Israel–it is offensive and disgusting in the extreme for you to state that I am “okay with dead kids.”
That is absolutely one hundred percent false. I don’t even think you believe that claim against me, so your posting it is really out of line.
Sacjon, you should read this comment by RHS, same applies to your misguided thoughts on criminals and guns.
Voice, my comments are not analogous to gun violence. The personal decision to take one’s own life is not the same as taking the lives of others. Putting barriers in the way of the latter is in the highest order of social good.
I do wish edhat would not post coverage of suicides. There is statically proven increase in suicides as a direct result of media coverage. Copycat effect is real. Edhat, please consider your role a media outlet and deleting this post. There is no benefit to be had from articles like this.
Do you expect all media outlets to do the same or just Edhat? What about next-door and Facebook and twitter?
I don’t “expect” any private company to do anything. But yes, I do believe it is the right thing to do for all media outlets to limit suicide news posts. I do believe we all have a duty to do what we can to limit suicide contagion. It is a scientific phenomena with factual evidence, not to be ignored for our own selfish curiosities.
It seems more dangerous to try and dictate what you personally think news outlets should not report.
I second not censoring what news outlet may and may not cover
It’s not censorship, there is no “may or may not”. It is about media makinga humane *choice* to be part of a solution vs knowingly adding to a horrible, sad problem to please the morbid fascination of the few. Is a life not worth forgoing a few hundreds clicks?
The media is a for profit business whose top priority is making money for themselves, their corporate owners, and their corporate advertisers. Being part of the solution and making a humane choice aren’t even on their radar.
I heard the Amtrak train was delayed after hitting someone pulling into SB this morning.
That is correct, but I have no further details, except that deputies went to two local addresses to make notification and called in a chaplain. Train traffic was resumed at about 10:30 am.
Several years ago there was an announcement that a fence was going to be installed to prevent people from jumping. Did it not get installed or was he able to circumvent it?
Yes, it was installed. At my age I could not circumvent it, but a younger person obviously can. Very sad. Condolences to the family.
ALEX – wrong topic and no, I don’t honestly believe you are ok with that, nor did I even say that. What I did say was “Unfortunately, you seem to be OK with the murdering of civilians as a means to achieve this goal.” The goal being the total eradication of Hamas. That’s much different. Hoping I’m wrong in thinking that’s what you were saying, but if not, then I absolutely disagree with your opinion on Gaza. You can leave it at that if you want or clarify what I’m hoping is not what you truly believe. Up to you.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments over whether a Texas man under a domestic violence restraining order has a Second Amendment right to own guns. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito sounded very concerned that courts are stripping away a fundamental right from men who judges agree are abusive. Republicans are incapable in most positions of government.
“The deceased was identified as Jiaxi Ma, 20, of Irvine…” per:
https://www.noozhawk.com/authorities-name-man-who-jumped-to-death-from-cold-spring-bridge/
Jiaxi Ma was a top 5 junior tennis player in US when he was 12 years old. I saw him playing tennis in Alhambra several times when his parents took him to LA from China. Too sad！