MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — Emergency response officials in Murfreesboro are encouraging kids and adults not to jump off a bridge into the Stones River for recreational fun.
The Searcy Street Greenway bridge located near Medical Center Pkwy is about 25 feet high and when the weather gets warm some people like to jump off the bridge into the river.
"Kids are adventurous, they feel like they're invincible, this is really close to where they live so yes it's a natural draw for them," police captain Cary Gensemer said.
Gensemer said with the warmer weather and official summer start, he expects to see people swim in the river. He advised kids and adults swim in pairs.
"In years past we have had young people jumping off the bridge into the Stones River and we just don't know enough about the bottom of the river for that to be safe. You could be jumping off the center of the bridge and you may have a very narrow area where it's safe for you to have the appropriate depth as to not strike the bottom of the channel but don't do it," Gensemer said.
The Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Swift Water Team train for all kinds of water response calls.
"It's summer, it's hot and people like to cool down in the water. You don't know what's under the water. We want people to have a good time but they got to do it in a safe manner," captain Matt Welcome said.
Officials said they have not had to respond to a bridge jumping related call at the greenway in a few years. They hope to keep that streak moving along like the current.
On April 9, 2017 - Police were dispatched to 1208 Searcy Street (Manson Pike Greenway Trailhead) to reports of kids jumping off the bridge into the water. No further information could be provided by the caller. No contact was made.
On July 24, 2018 – A complaint called police saying he was at the Stones River bridge and two juveniles, a male approximately 17-18 and a female appears to be around 14 years of age were jumping off the bridge into the Stones River. No contact were able to be made with the subjects.
