Traffic on the 40th Street Bridge came to a stop Tuesday afternoon after bystanders spotted a man standing on the edge of the span, threatening to jump into the Allegheny River below. Among those who stopped was Herky Pollock, a 62-year-old Pittsburgh business leader who pulled his car over immediately, walked toward the railing, and ended up spending about three hours helping police reach the 26-year-old man safely.
The distress call came in to 911 at 3:41 p.m. on Tuesday, and emergency responders closed the bridge to traffic from 3:47 p.m. until 6:55 p.m. while they negotiated with the man, according to TribLIVE. Pollock, president and CEO of Legacy Realty Partners and co-founder of Legacy Hospitality Partners, said he rarely drives across the 40th Street Bridge and was on his way from East Liberty to the North Shore that afternoon when he saw the young man standing on the other side of the railing, holding on and visibly distraught.
Pollock found the man contemplating jumping and worked alongside Millvale Police Chief Tim Komoroski, Detective Zach Potetz and Officer Jessica Brenning to try to connect with him. Komoroski said civilians ordinarily should not be present during such situations, but he allowed Pollock to stay once Pollock had established a rapport with the man. Komoroski later called Pollock an asset that day, and Pollock said the rescue was ultimately a group effort.
A Father Speaking to a Son on the Ledge
The man told responders he was from Washington, D.C., and had been passing through Pittsburgh. At first, he said he did not believe what responders were telling him. Pollock offered him legal support, job opportunities, medical help and political connections in an effort to give him reasons to step back from the edge, and he promised to celebrate the man’s life when he turns 30…