Strange suicide

[Howard Barlow]

My son, 13 y.o. grandson, and I went to Galveston this morning. While we were sitting in the ferry line, about 5 p.m., waiting to leave, we witnessed this about 100 yards ahead of us.

[janetg]

you actually saw the guy drive off? traumatic... hope you had a good talk with your son after that.

[toverman]

It sounds awful. Must've been really weird to see that happen.

[CaroleHayes]

How horrible!! And I'm very upset over the part where the ferry workers wouldn't let people try to rescue the guy! : (

[ElanR]

Originally Posted by CaroleHayes

How horrible!! And I'm very upset over the part where the ferry workers wouldn't let people try to rescue the guy! : (

Same here. I'm guessing he was alive at that point.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by CaroleHayes

How horrible!! And I'm very upset over the part where the ferry workers wouldn't let people try to rescue the guy! : (

That is the part that got me. Especially, since some suicidal people attempt the act, while hoping that someone will stop/save them. Or, like the people who were in that Golden Gate suicide movie that survived and were interviewed. Many said they regretted it right after jumping, but couldn't stop it at that point.

[danchez]

not that I am siding with the ferry workers, just flipping the coin. Some people have been known to take others with them. Can you imagine if someone swam down there, broke the window only to be grabbed by this guy and then drowned while in his clutches.... I don't even mind suicide, but if you are going to do it, there is no need to traumatize others by making them watch. Just my .02 cents

[janetg]

i'm with danchez on this one, 30 feet of water at 745pm is like diving into black nothingness - you can't see a thing i'm sure. imagine 3-4 people trying to go down there only to get trapped themselves or otherwise die trying to save the guy.

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by janetg

i'm with danchez on this one, 30 feet of water at 745pm is like diving into black nothingness - you can't see a thing i'm sure. imagine 3-4 people trying to go down there only to get trapped themselves or otherwise die trying to save the guy.

But the car floated for several minutes. If they refuse to let other people try and save a life then they should have taken it upon themselves to do so. Surely they are equipped for emergencies.

[janetg]

that i can agree with jeff - they should have had people trained to handle it.

but letting bystanders try to do it, is folly. having just watched deja vu...what if the guy had a bomb in the car? who would have known? there are just way too many suicide dealers who want to take innocent people out with them.

[Howard Barlow]

Well, rats. I wrote a response, but must not have hit the right button.

Anyway, here is today's front page.

There were hundreds of people, including numerous kids of all ages, who witnessed the event.

As I said, in my non-post from last night, there are many unkowns, at the time. There is usually a strong current there. If by-standers just start jumping in the water, they would likely add to the rescue/recovery numbers.

If the professional divers did not go in, that tells us something.

The person, from the first report, said he just sat there, making no effort to escape. Drunk/drugs? Suicide? We may never know.

[toverman]

The workers on the ferries are employed by the Texas Department of Transportation and aren't paid much. Pre-Ike, stories about the long delays pointed to the difficulty in finding and keeping employees. Really, I think they were just doing their jobs in keeping people from going in (and away from the ramps and equipment when the ferries aren't being loaded).

Like Howard says, we may never know why the man drove his car in the water (even if it was an accident). I've ridden those ferries many times ... it would take a lot of maneuvering to get out of line, accelerate that quickly and ram into one of the ramps. The loss of one life is a tragedy that could only be topped if bystanders were also killed trying to save someone who may or may not have wanted to be saved.

[sparkyjr]

Originally Posted by danchez

not that I am siding with the ferry workers, just flipping the coin. Some people have been known to take others with them. Can you imagine if someone swam down there, broke the window only to be grabbed by this guy and then drowned while in his clutches.... I don't even mind suicide, but if you are going to do it, there is no need to traumatize others by making them watch. Just my .02 cents

+1

it is dangerous to attempt to save anyone in water, much less in conditions described in this situation.

it'll be interesting to see what the M.E. rules. before assuming this was a suicide, one must consider if the man had any significant medical history. he could have had a medical event which precipitated the car entering the water. i did not read any mention of seeing any activity in the car while it was still floating.

[sbug_adam]

whoa.. thats nuts

[sldi]

Suicides can have all sorts of strangeness to them. A week ago last Friday I was in Baton Rouge, a guy drove his car up to the top of the bridge on I-10 with the intent to jump off. He was struck and killed by a passing car when he got out of his.