Trooper, ranger try to prevent man from jumping off bridge

A trooper with the Washington State Patrol and a ranger with State Parks were unable to stop a man from jumping off Deception Pass Bridge Thursday night.

The body of Aaron Pfeiffer, 40, of Seattle, was recovered on a beach west of the bridge Friday morning, according to Island County Coroner Robert Bishop.

Pfeiffer called his wife Thursday night and told her he planned to jump off the bridge.

Pfeiffer’s wife alerted authorities, Bishop said.

The trooper and a park ranger parked on Pass Island, in the middle of the bridge, to watch for Pfeiffer Thursday night. They saw him drive by just after 10 p.m. and pulled in behind him.

Pfeiffer didn’t even stop his car, but put it in neutral on the bridge and jumped out. The trooper and park ranger yelled to him not to jump, but he did before they could get to him, Bishop said.

A Coast Guard helicopter spotted the man’s body the next morning.

Deception Pass Bridge is about 180 feet above the water.