RF man dies after fall from bridge

By Phil Pfuehler

A local man who tumbled off the Hwy. 35-65 bypass bridge a week and a half ago died Sunday evening from injuries suffered in the fall.

Jacob W. Johnson, 19, 157 Hwy. 35 of Fox's Trailer Court, had been spotted by a passing motorist on Quarry Road at 4 a.m. Saturday, April 10.

When police arrived shortly after they found Johnson unconscious on Quarry Road just under the bypass bridge. He remained in that condition after being airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

"It does appear this was nothing more than a tragic accident," Sgt. Jeff Linehan of the River Falls police said. "We have no evidence of foul play."

Last week police were investigating Johnson's whereabouts between midnight and the time of his fall. Linehan said it appears he left a party in the city of River Falls around 3:30 a.m. and was walking toward his home in the trailer court.

Since there were no witnesses, the circumstances of how Johnson fell may never be known. The distance between the bypass bridge and Quarry Road below is 25 feet.

While still waiting for test results, Linehan said there was evidence Johnson was drinking.

Johnson is from the Forest Lake, Minn., area. He worked at the Arrow Building Center in Hudson.