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TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- A couple from Ithaca, N.Y. jumped from the Tappan Zee Bridge Tuesday morning around 9:15 a.m. The woman was killed but the man remains in critical condition in Nyack Hospital, police said.
Police confirmed the couple as Christopher Shears, 44, and Alfa Choice, 29, and said they were originally from the Bronx, though living in Ithaca.
The two climbed naked atop a Chevrolet Tahoe that was stopped in the southbound lane and held hands. The woman jumped or fell first into the Hudson River and the man followed. Police said they do not know why the couple wasn't wearing clothes and have not said if they left a note.
Crew members working on the bridge were the first to respond.
The Tappan Zee Bridge is a frequent choice of suicide jumpers and authorities have implemented several measures in recent years to try to dissuade distressed people from jumping off the bridge, said Betsy Feldstein, spokesperson for The New York State Thruway. The state has placed several cellular-based phones that connect directly to a 24/7 national suicide prevention hotline along the bridge, trained bridge staff in suicide prevention, and installed suicide fencing, Feldstein said.
The bridge is also equipped with four cameras so that officials can monitor traffic, broken down cars and unauthorized people.
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