'We Need Some Divers ASAP': Multi-Agency Emergency Response at I-94 Bridge over St. Croix River

Updated at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Emergency responders from many local agencies rushed to the I-94 bridge over the St. Croix River Tuesday afternoon.

Washington County officials confirmed Tuesday evening the incident was a suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255.

This is how the situation unfolded Tuesday:

The first calls came in at 2:24 p.m., according to Washington County emergency dispatch officials. Fire, police, emergency and medical personnel, including a dive team, responded to the scene. 

Dispatchers and responders discussed the arrival of divers at 2:45 p.m., including a plea that "we need divers ASAP."

Lakeland resident Richard Glasgow said he saw the Lower St. Croix Fire Department as well as fire crews from Hudson, Scandia (dive team), Bayport, Mahtomedi and Stillwater. Glasgow reported seeing a vehicle towed from the bridge and a rescue crews' airboat traveling on the river near the bridge. (See Glasgow's photos of emergency responders  above.)

At 2:58 p.m., crews were breaking ice for divers and awaiting their arrival, according to scanner reports. "We're still in rescue mode here," said one responder. 

Radio reports indicated that dive crews were pulling back from the scene at 3:30 p.m. 

At 4:45 p.m., a Washington County emergency dispatcher said most responders had cleared the scene although a dive team remained. 

MnDOT cameras showed lights at midspan of the bridge and traffic backed up past Hwy. 95. 

Divers were set to return to the frigid waters to search for the man's body, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. 

A similar tragic incident occurred one year earlier. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 if you need to talk to someone.