Curry County Search & Rescue volunteers recovered the body of an Army veteran who jumped from the Thomas Creek Bridge this weekend. | Photo courtesy of Sheriff John Ward

From Curry County Sheriff John Ward:

Saturday January 6, 2024, the Brookings Police Department notified the Curry County Sheriff’s Office of a call about a suicidal subject at the Thomas Creek Bridge about ten miles north of Brookings on U.S. Highway 101. The Brookings Police Department indicated that the caller
identified himself as Andrew Larson.

The Oregon State Police had been notified and several
Deputies responded. Deputies arrived within a few minutes and did not locate anybody on the
bridge but did find a vehicle in the parking lot south of the bridge that was registered to the initial caller, thirty-nine -year-old Andrew Larsen of Lake Oswego, Oregon.

An OSP Trooper located some items and information inside the vehicle that indicated Larsen may have jumped from the bridge.

Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Gray arrived and deployed a drone to search under the bridge, but due to the darkness, was not able to locate anything. Due to the dangerous descent to the bottom because of the darkness, it was decided that the Curry County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team would search under the bridge at first light the next morning. Deputies remained in the area to search along the roadway.

On Sunday, January 7, 2024, the Curry County Search and Rescue team responded, and one member deployed a drone and located a body in the thick brush below the bridge. Six SAR members descended to the bottom and located and confirmed the body was that of Andrew
Larsen. A couple of Coos Curry Electric employees were asked to assist and arrived with a boom truck and line pulling machine. Once the ground SAR team located Larsen and prepared him to be moved, the Coos Curry Electric Team used the line pulling machine and boom truck to raise Larsen from the bottom to the top of the bridge.

Members of the Oregon Department of Transportation were on scene to shut down traffic on the bridge while the recovery was in process. Larsen was then released to Redwood Memorial out of Brookings.

The Curry County District Attorney was notified and authorized the release of Larsen. The next of kin has been notified as well. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office extends their condolences to the family and friend of Andrew Larsen who is an Army Veteran.

For those who are struggling with suicide, help is available by calling or texting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

SHARE →