Man Leaps To Death In Apparent Suicide At Tacoma Narrows

A man was killed yesterday in an apparent suicide leap from the top of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Vance Gabriel, 26, of Tacoma, fell more than 200 feet. His body was recovered on the Narrows Marina on the west side of the waterway.

According to Tacoma police, Gabriel climbed ladders and catwalks to the top of the bridge tower. Five State Patrol officers and Tacoma firefighters also climbed to the top in an unsuccessful effort to coax the man down. He refused to talk and as soon as they got close he leaped to his death.

The standoff, which began about 11 a.m., slowed bridge traffic for three hours.

According to Tacoma police, Gabriel's father, who lives near the bridge, said his son had been despondent.