Southbound I-75 closed Thursday night as firefighters work to recover suicide victim

Southbound Interstate 75 was shut down for more than an hour at the Laurel/Whitley County line Thursday after a Williamsburg man jumped from the bridge crossing Lynn Camp Creek.

Photo courtesy of Corbin Fire Department.

Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced Jordan W. Veach, 34, dead at the scene.

Firefighters and emergency personnel were called to the scene at approximately 4 p.m. after a driver reported seeing a man jump from the bridge.

Corbin Fire Department Battalion Chief Jack Partin said firefighters had to repel 125 feet down from the bridge to reach Veach who had struck the ground on the bank near the creek.

“We couldn’t go through the woods because we would have had to cut trees and we couldn’t use a boat to come down the creek because it was on a foot-and-a-half deep,” Partin explained noting that left going over the side of the bridge as the only access point.

While one lane of southbound I-75 remained open as firefighters initially repelled to the scene, once the recovery effort began, the interstate was closed.

Partin explained that firefighters had to set up and extend the ladder truck over the side.

A rope system was rigged at the end of the ladder that was used to hoist the body up to the bridge.

In order to extend the ladder, the truck has stabilizers that are extended out from the sides of the truck.

The recovery was completed by 6:30 p.m. and the interstate was reopened.

Corbin Fire Department, London-Laurel Rescue Squad and West Knox Fire Department participated in the operation.

Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County, Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, Corbin Police and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office also responded to the scene.