Coroner Says Visiting Scientist Died in Accidental Fall off Bridge

AP.TBO.COM ^ | Jan 14, 2002 | The Associated Press

[Wonder Warthog]

"Supposedly if there was a struggle there would be bruises on his body, but who knows. Other than that, falling off a bridge could be due to a push or a jump."

If the corpse was in such bad shape that they had to identify it from dental work, I seriously doubt that they could have found any bruises.

[Senator Pardek]

Did a dog eat his head?

[freefly]

When this was originally reported, they did not mention damage to the vehicle.
Now all of a sudden there was an "accident", the guy stopped in the middle of the bridge, and he then fell off.
How very tidy.
(I'm sure it happens all the time.)

Interesting that all that was required for them to determine "no foul play"
was the fact that his wallet was still in his pocket.
I guess that when someone is cleaning up loose ends, they normally take the money.

[UberVernunft]

If the corpse was in such bad shape that they had to identify it from dental work, I seriously doubt that they could have found any bruises.

Good point. So describing this as an "accident" is entirely bogus. It may or may not be an accident, but no one can say based on an examination of the body in this case.

[Sloth]

They're just covering up the involvement of the Balrog.

[Corporate Law]

Minor accident???? Where's the other car? Witnesses? Who is investigating this, Chief Wiggums????

[UberVernunft]

I'm seeing lots of "tin-foil hat" conspiracy-type posts here!!! What gives?

The problem is that the coroner's report is engaging in speculation when describing this as an accident. Given that it no doubt would be a very strange accident falling off a (fenced) bridge.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Dangitt, gonna have to replace the B.S. meter again.

[lsee]

The coroner may be able to determine whether or not the man died of other causes than drowning, but only an honest investigator can determine if the circumstances surrounding the death were indeed accidental. The guy got snuffed out and now all the evidence is likely gone. The coroner overstepped his bounds.

[isthisnickcool]

Sounds reasonable. Maybe he was arrrrrgggggggggggggggg.......

Sorry, I was typing along there and fell off a bridge suddenly. Anyone got a towel?

[YaYa123]

I'm looking for the threads that detail how several imminent scientists have met with untimely deaths, and all of them since the anthrax scares. No luck so far, but the only reason FR was interested in this guy's death was that it followed the strange deaths of other scientists.

I'm sure someone will find the pertinent threads and give us a link.

[newzjunkey]

This is really hard to swallow. Since this guy died, have there been any "new" anthrax mailings? Just curious.

[Lockbox]

yellow scrape marks

Who drives taxis?????

[B4Ranch]

Coroner Says Visiting Scientist Died in Accidental Fall off Bridge because the coroner doesn't want to fall off the bridge himself.

[Slyfox]

I think I remember reading that his wife said he was afraid of heights. Now, if he got out of his car to check something on a bridge wouldn't that indicate that someone else was involved if there was a "minor motor vehicle accident"? Someone with a fear of heights would have driven his car away from the bridge, especially if he was the only one involved in the "minor motor vehicle accident".

[BJungNan]

I'm seeing lots of "tin-foil hat" conspiracy-type posts here!!! What gives?

Perhaps. But then again, perhaps you can explain how someone accidently falls off a bridge, a bridge with a 10 foot high fence.

Really, please do favor us with your reply.

[BJungNan]

Sounds reasonable. Maybe he was arrrrrgggggggggggggggg.......

Sorry, I was typing along there and fell off a bridge suddenly. Anyone got a towel?

Love it! Too funny!

[Steve0113]

It has been reported that the hubcap for the right front wheel was missing and there were yellow scrape marks

Sounds like he hit the curb, which was likely painted yellow to indicate no stopping/parking on the bridge.

Then again, what happened to the hubcap? Maybe it fell off the bridge too. (/sarcasm)

[antivenom]

The guy was probably drunk...hit the curb...went to HURL some chunks over the side and slipped, CHUNKS first...

Come on folks it isn't like he was a ROCKET Scientist! LOL!!!!!

[RnMomof7]

I have my foil hat on..The " small accident" was to get him out of his car. What "kind " of an accident was it?. If it was a one car "minor"accident why did he get out of his car on a bridge? Where is the other car and driver? Where did the other driver and witnesses go? Is it possible that the "accident " happened elsewhere and the car and body moved there? Was there water in his lungs? It would seem to me that the bridge would always have traffic on it..

This sounds like Vince Foster to me