Evening commuters on the St. Croix River bridge were suddenly brought to a standstill Thursday when two separate 911 calls triggered a full-scale response from both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Traffic backed up in both directions as divers and crisis negotiators worked different sides of the river. One man was pulled from the water and pronounced dead, and another person was taken into care and transported to a hospital. The twin emergencies briefly shut down all eastbound and westbound lanes, sending drivers scrambling for alternate routes.
According to the Pioneer Press, the first 911 call came in around 3:50 p.m., when a passing motorist reported a person on the Minnesota side of the bridge. Deputies say the man jumped and was later found dead in the river. Authorities identified him as a 65-year-old Birchwood Village resident and said his vehicle was still parked in the eastbound lane when crews arrived.
While divers were in the water working to recover the first man, a witness reported a second incident at about 4:35 p.m. Crisis negotiators made contact with a man sitting on the westbound railing, and Lakeview EMS later transported him to Regions Hospital.
Response and Road Impact
Washington County deputies, Wisconsin sheriff’s units and several municipal police and fire departments responded, with river teams and negotiators staging on both banks. For a stretch of the late afternoon, both directions of travel were shut down, causing heavy rush-hour delays and forcing drivers to detour around the bridge.
Once recovery, rescue and cleanup operations wrapped up and investigators completed their initial scene work, officials reopened the span and began clearing the backlog of traffic. Drivers can expect that some of those delays may linger as the evening commute normalizes.
Where to Get Help
For anyone feeling rattled by the day’s events or struggling with their own mental health, there is help around the clock. Text "MN" to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line, or reach local support through Crisis Connection at 612-379-6363 for metro-area assistance.
Nationally, you can call or text 988 Lifeline, and you should always call 911 in an immediate emergency.
Next Steps and Tips for Drivers
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and is asking anyone with information about either incident to contact the office’s non-emergency line or use the county’s tip resources.
Drivers in the Stillwater area may see some residual congestion near the bridge and should factor in extra time or consider alternate crossings until traffic fully settles down. We will update this post as officials release more details.
