Florida Man Running from Deputies Jumps Off Bridge in Unsuccessful Escape
The Lee County Sheriff's Office said deputies were trying to pull over a stolen van on Saturday evening in Fort Myers, but the driver, sped off. The sheriff's office aviation unit arrived and followed the van from above, capturing video as the vehicle crashed at the top of the Edison Bridge.
The driver -- later identified as 34-year-old Bryan Gray, then got out of the van, jumped over the safety barrier, and dove off of the bridge and into the Caloosahatchee River below in his effort to elude deputies.
While the aviation unit kept an eye on the suspect in the water, the sheriff's office marine unit was deployed and pulled Gray from the river. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office posted the video and a recap of the event on their social media pages... See that below, including that video...
Lee County Sheriff's Office
DIVING INTO JAIL
On Friday evening just prior to midnight, North District deputies attempted a traffic stop on a stolen van traveling on Bayshore Road. The suspect, later identified as Bryan Gray (DOB 07/28/1987), sped off westbound toward U.S. 41.
Aviation pilots arrived on scene and observed him from the air, capturing this FLIR footage from Chopper One.
At the top of the Edison Bridge, the van abruptly swerved and crashed into a retaining barrier. Gray got out of the van, jumped over the safety barrier, and dove into the Caloosahatchee River.
A perimeter was established, and FMPD’s Marine Unit was deployed. Gray was pulled from the water and detained by deputies before being transported to a local hospital to receive treatment.
While he may not have earned a gold medal for his high dive, Gray did find himself in hot water when he earned pending charges of Grand Theft Auto and Fleeing and Eluding.
Photo: Getty Images