The majestic 1913 Colarado Street Bridge in Pasadena, California not only wondered early travellers crossing the causeway
but soon took on a sinster note when people began to leap from the 150 foot bridge to their death. Locals began to call it
the "Suicide Bridge". Legends began that the bridge was haunted by some souls.
The beautiful concrete bridge spans 1,500 feet across the Arroyo Seco, a deeply cut canyon linking the San Gabriel Mountains
to Los Angeles river, and often referred to as Arroyo Seco Bridge.In Pasadena's early days, before the bridge was built,
crossing Arroyo Seco was extremely difficult task. The bridge was designed and built by J.A.L Waddell of Kansas city,
Missouri and named for Colorado Street.
The engineer John Drake gave an idea of curving the bridge, he created a work of
art.
The first tragedy on the bridge occurred before the construction was complete. When one of the bridge workers saw this,
they assumed that he couldnot be saved and left his
body in the quick-drying cement. His is only one of the many souls said to haunt the "Sucide Brige".
The first suicide occurred on November 16,1919. It was followed by number of others during great depression. Over the years, It was estimated that more than 100 people took their lives leaping
the 150 feet into the arroyo below. One of the most
notable sucides was when a mother threw her baby girl over the railing on May 1,1937.She then followed into the depths of
canyon. Though the mother died, her child survived
miraculously. Though the number of suicides has decreased, the bridge continues to retain its nickname and its ghostly
legends.
According to the tales, a number of spirits are said to wander the bridge itself as well as the arroyo below. Others have
heard unexplained cries coming from the canyon. One report tells of spectral man that is often seen wandering the bridge
who wears wire rimmed glasses. Other people have claimed to see a woman in a long flowing robe, who stands atop one of the
parapets, before vanishing as she throws herself off the side.
In the arroyo below, phantom forms have been seen walking the river bed, a number of unexplainable sounds are often heard,
and the atmosphere is often described as "thick.”
but soon took on a sinster note when people began to leap from the 150 foot bridge to their death. Locals began to call it
the "Suicide Bridge". Legends began that the bridge was haunted by some souls.
The beautiful concrete bridge spans 1,500 feet across the Arroyo Seco, a deeply cut canyon linking the San Gabriel Mountains
to Los Angeles river, and often referred to as Arroyo Seco Bridge.In Pasadena's early days, before the bridge was built,
crossing Arroyo Seco was extremely difficult task. The bridge was designed and built by J.A.L Waddell of Kansas city,
Missouri and named for Colorado Street.
The engineer John Drake gave an idea of curving the bridge, he created a work of
art.
The first tragedy on the bridge occurred before the construction was complete. When one of the bridge workers saw this,
they assumed that he couldnot be saved and left his
body in the quick-drying cement. His is only one of the many souls said to haunt the "Sucide Brige".
The first suicide occurred on November 16,1919. It was followed by number of others during great depression. Over the years, It was estimated that more than 100 people took their lives leaping
the 150 feet into the arroyo below. One of the most
notable sucides was when a mother threw her baby girl over the railing on May 1,1937.She then followed into the depths of
canyon. Though the mother died, her child survived
miraculously. Though the number of suicides has decreased, the bridge continues to retain its nickname and its ghostly
legends.
According to the tales, a number of spirits are said to wander the bridge itself as well as the arroyo below. Others have
heard unexplained cries coming from the canyon. One report tells of spectral man that is often seen wandering the bridge
who wears wire rimmed glasses. Other people have claimed to see a woman in a long flowing robe, who stands atop one of the
parapets, before vanishing as she throws herself off the side.
In the arroyo below, phantom forms have been seen walking the river bed, a number of unexplainable sounds are often heard,
and the atmosphere is often described as "thick.”
News article highlighting recent suspected suicide - January 18, 2013
PASADENA - A woman plummeted to her death Friday after apparently jumping from the Colorado Street Bridge, police said.
The incident was reported about 3:45 p.m. on the east side of the bridge, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
The woman, estimated to be in her late 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. The investigation was ongoing,
however the death initially appeared to be a suicide, Torres said.
Initial reports indicate she jumped, officials said.
"There doesn't seem to be any signs of foul play," he said.
News Article from The Pasadena Star News - January 02, 2002
PASADENA -- A body so badly decomposed police only suspect it is that of a male was discovered Tuesday night when someone
reported a bad smell emanating from the Arroyo Seco, authorities said. Pasadena Fire Department firefighters had to rappel
down the face of a cliff and cut through thick brush with chain saws to reach the source of the smell, said Pasadena police
Lt. Darryl Qualls.
The body, possibly that of a transient, was discovered after a two-hour search ended about 9:30 p.m. near the Colorado
Street Bridge just east of San Rafael Avenue in what appeared to be a transient camp, he said.
The bridge is known locally as Suicide Bridge because of the large number of people who have jumped from it to their death.
But police said it was too early to tell what caused the death.
"We don't know if it was a natural death or at the hands of someone else," Qualls said.
The race of the dead person could also not be determined because of the state of decomposition, he said.
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