Man's Body Recovered From Hudson River After Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Jump

A 28-year-old Newburgh man jumped from the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge on Saturday, March 14, from a section where protective fencing is lower, and his body was recovered from the Hudson River nearly three hours later by the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team.

Police said the man jumped at about 11:03 a.m. Troopers from the New York State Police Montgomery barracks were called to the scene at about 11:08 a.m. The URT recovered the body from the Hudson at approximately 1:54 p.m. that afternoon. The man's name had not been released as of reporting, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the man jumped from a specific section of the bridge where protective fencing is lower than elsewhere on the span. According to authorities, the man parked on the eastbound span before jumping to his death into the river below.

The response drew agencies from across Orange County. The Town of Newburgh Police Department, the City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff's Office all assisted on scene, with the Sheriff's Office deploying its drone unit to aid in the search. Marine units from New Hamburg, Middle Hope, and Newburgh joined the water recovery effort alongside the State Police Underwater Team. The City of Newburgh Fire Department, Middle Hope Fire Department, the Monroe Fire Department Dive Team, and the Orange County Fire Coordinator also responded, as did Town of Newburgh EMS. Emergency activity prompted heavy police presence on Interstate 84 eastbound near the bridge late Saturday morning as crews worked the scene.

The body was turned over to the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office. No official cause or manner of death has been released, and no autopsy results have been made public. Questions about the incident can be directed to Troop F Public Information Officer Trooper Jennifer Alvarez at New York State Police Troop F Headquarters in Middletown.

The lower-fencing section of the bridge, which preliminary findings identified as the point from which the man jumped, raises questions about infrastructure safety measures at the crossing. Authorities have not announced any planned changes to fencing or barriers at that location.