NEWBURG, Md. — A man died after jumping from the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge on Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
At approximately 11:45 a.m., emergency services received reports of an individual jumping from the bridge, which spans the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. Fire rescue marine units from Charles County, Maryland, and King George County, Virginia, were dispatched to the scene.
A range boat from the Naval Support Facility Dahlgren was in the vicinity and assisted Newburg Boat Fire #14 and Colonial Beach Fire Boat #1 in the search. The male victim was found deceased on the river’s surface. Colonial Beach Fire Boat #1 retrieved the body and transported it to Aqualand Marina, where land units were waiting.
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police are leading the investigation into the incident. Fire rescue units cleared the scene around 1:00 p.m.
The Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge, commonly known as the Harry Nice Bridge, connects Newburg, Maryland, to Dahlgren, Virginia, over the Potomac River. The original bridge, a two-lane structure, was replaced by a new four-lane bridge that opened to traffic in October 2022. Demolition of the old bridge began in March 2023.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about safety measures on regional bridges. In February 2022, commissioners from St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles counties urged the state to implement anti-suicide measures on bridges, including the Harry Nice Bridge, following multiple suicide attempts.
Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased pending notification of next of kin. The investigation is ongoing.