A 32 year old off duty firefighter from Rio Vista died after he jumped off of the Stent-Jacksonville Bridge at Lake Don Pedro on Saturday, October 13, 2012. On Tuesday, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release stating that his body was found and that he was identified as Bernard Lynch of Rio Vista.
Lynch was fishing with a friend when he decided to jump off the 150 foot tall bridge. After lynch jumped, he never surfaced.
Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department and Merced County Sheriff’s dive teams searched the lake Sunday and did not find Lynch’s body until Monday at approximately 5:30pm.
Lynch was located in about 109 feet of water with the help of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from Merced County Sheriff’s Office. Lynch’s body was discovered by the ROV’s camera and its gripping arm brought him to the surface where he was recovered by members of Tuolumne County Boat Patrol.
An investigation by Coroner’s Deputies is underway and an autopsy will be performed. There is no evidence of foul play or that this was a suicide attempt.