CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Interstate 295 near the eastern Henrico County-Chesterfield County line has reopened after a man jumped from the Varina-Enon Bridge Wednesday afternoon.
Police responded to the bridge around 1:35 a.m. after they received a report of a man who was threatening to jump off the bridge. Witnesses said the man had a gun, though police have not yet confirmed that information. Police negotiators spent much of the morning talking to the man in hopes of ending the situation.
However, Lt. Scott Jones with Henrico police said that after ten hours of negotiating, the man jumped from the bridge just after 12:30 p.m.
"Upon landing in the water, the subject began swimming and was immediately retrieved from the water by HPD Marine Patrol and placed into custody," Jones said. "The subject is being transported to a locate area hospital for evaluation."
Jones said that the man was taken to VCU Medical Center.
All lanes of the interstate had been reopened by 2 p.m. VDOT said that the northbound left and center lanes of the interstate had reopened as of 1:05 p.m., but that the southbound lanes remained closed as police continued their investigation.
"Drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route. Southbound traffic is being diverted to Route 5 (New Market Road) at Exit 22 and northbound traffic is being diverted to Route 10 (East Hundred Road) at Exit 15. Expect delays," VDOT advised.
