Body found below Foresthill Bridge believed to be a suicide

A body was discovered below the Foresthill Bridge today. A Placer County Sheriff's Office deputy at the bridge this morning said that details were still being determined but that it is believed to have been a suicide off the 730-foot-high span. Part of the bridge near its center on the south-facing side was behind yellow caution tape and grieving friends and relatives of the person whose body was found stood near the bridge entrance, many in tears. The bridge, which hovers over the north fork American River north of Auburn, has been the scene of 89 other fatal plunges over the past 46 years, according to an unofficial Auburn Journal count. Two people previously jumped off the bridge this year — in March and June. The bridge was opened in 1973 as part of Auburn dam construction and is part of the main road link between Auburn and Foresthill. The bridge is the highest in California and fourth highest in the United States. Over the past two decades, bridge owner Placer County has taken steps to attempt to reduce the number of people jumping off the bridge by installing phones. The phones can be used to call a suicide prevention hotline. Railing on both sides of the bridge overlooking the canyon has also been raised in recent years, making the climb over the top more difficult. And volunteers have fastened positive "Messages of Hope" on the railing in an attempt to convince people that life continues to be worth living. The possibility of a suicide at the bridge was first reported to authorities around 8 a.m. and searchers located the body in the canyon about 25 minutes later, Auburn State Recreation Area Superintendent Mike Howard said. Suicide hotline prevention numbers to call are 888-886-5401 and 530-886-5401.