Olympia Police investigating death of man found under Fifth Avenue bridge

Olympia Police detectives are investigating the death of a young man officers found unconscious and not breathing under the Fifth Avenue Bridge Tuesday evening.

Just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, a 911 caller reported someone had jumped off a bridge in that area, Lt. Paul Lower told The Olympian. Officers arrived to find the man, estimated to be in his 20s, and they attempted CPR, Lower said.

Medics with the Olympia Fire Department arrived shortly after 8 p.m. and took over resuscitation efforts that spanned about 10 minutes, according to Assistant Fire Chief Mike Buchanan. It was determined the man could not be resuscitated, and medics ultimately stopped the effort under medical direction from a physician, Buchanan said.

Witness accounts of the incident have varied, and the case is being investigated as a “suspicious death,” Lower said.

Detectives were continuing to follow up with witnesses on Wednesday, Lower said.

This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 9:33 AM.

Sara Gentzler

The Olympian

360-754-5459

Sara Gentzler joined The Olympian in June 2019 as a county and courts reporter. She now covers Washington state government for The Olympian, The News Tribune, The Bellingham Herald, and Tri-City Herald. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Creighton University.