FHP sergeant saves man from jumping off Skyway

ST. PETERSBURG — A sergeant with the Florida Highway Patrol stopped a 48-year-old Bradenton man from jumping off the Sunshine Skyway bridge on Friday night, authorities said.

Sgt. Raymond Ada was dispatched to the bridge at about 8:15 p.m. Friday to investigate a possible suicide attempt, an FHP spokesman said.

Ada found the man standing on top of the bridge's barrier wall. When the man spotted Ada, he jumped down and got into a Nissan pickup.

Ada ran up to the vehicle as the man started the truck's engine, then jumped into the bed of the pickup when the man began to drive away.

The man stopped abruptly and tried to dive out of the passenger door and make another run at the bridge. Ada was able to restrain the man and take his keys.

The man was taken into custody under the Baker Act and transported to Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services Inc., officials said.