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Alcohol cited as factor in man’s fall from Johnson Street Bridge

Alcohol was a factor in a fall from the Johnson Street Bridge that left a man seriously injured on Saturday, police say. Victoria police were called to the area about 11:40 p.m. and found the man injured on the ground below the bridge.
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Johnson Street Bridge in downtown Victoria.

Alcohol was a factor in a fall from the Johnson Street Bridge that left a man seriously injured on Saturday, police say.

Victoria police were called to the area about 11:40 p.m. and found the man injured on the ground below the bridge. They initially said it appeared the man leaned on the railing and somehow fell to the ground below.

It’s at least the second incident involving someone falling from the bridge. In December, a man died after falling into the water. Police said the man, who was intoxicated, lost his balance while climbing on the bridge’s railing.

City staff say the bridge’s railing meets safety standards, and its safety systems are better than those for the previous bridge. “Safety systems are generally designed for normal use, not necessarily to prevent a determined person who wants to get around them,” said city spokesman Bill Eisenhauer.

Eisenhauer said the city will review “all relevant details” to determine if any action is required.