PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The Piscataqua River Bridge was closed Thursday morning as law enforcement officials responded to an incident involving an individual on the northbound side of the bridge.
The New Hampshire man was reportedly seen "jumping from the bridge to the jersey barriers, then onto the catwalk underneath, narrowly missing [which would have resulted in him] falling 100 feet below," Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss wrote in a news release. Moss later clarified that the man did not fall.
Moss told NEWS CENTER Maine earlier in the day that troopers took the New Hampshire resident into protective custody before taking him to a local hospital.
The individual's identity was not being released at this time because he was taken into protective custody, Moss explained.
Moss said Interstate 95 was stopped on both sides of the bridge connecting Maine and New Hampshire, beginning around 6:30 a.m. Moss stated in a Thursday afternoon release that traffic was backed up for about 6 miles on either side of the bridge.
The bridge reopened around 10:45 a.m.
Moss said the incident report would be submitted to the York County District Attorney’s Office upon its completion to determine whether any charges would be filed.
New Hampshire State Police assisted Maine State Police at the scene, along with the Portsmouth police and fire departments, Maine Turnpike Authority, and New Hampshire Department of Transportation.
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