NEWS

Watch: Man saves woman on Leo Frigo bridge

Jeff Bollier
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
A man talked a woman away from the ledge of the Leo Frigo Bridge Tuesday afternoon.

The Green Bay Police applauded a man’s efforts to talk a woman away from the ledge of the Leo Frigo Bridge Tuesday afternoon.

Robert Vine was driving westbound on Interstate 43 on his way to buy a motorcycle just after noon Tuesday when he noticed a car stopped in an eastbound lane of the bridge. He took a second look and saw a woman sitting on the ledge, clutching a teddy bear.

Vine turned around at an exit, pulled up behind the stopped car and approached the woman.

He said he started talking to the woman and grabbed her ankle at one point to keep her from jumping off the bridge, noting she was cold, scared and crying.

“I decided ‘Not on my watch,’” Vine said. “I just wanted to get her safe.”

Green Bay Police Capt. Kevin Warych said officers arrived minutes after Vine and were able to help bring the woman to safety.

“Robert put himself in harm’s way to negotiate her safety,” Warych said. “There are good people in the community like Robert who helped save this woman’s life. We appreciate and applaud his efforts.”

jbollier@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GBstreetwise .