Passaic river suicide

A search continued this afternoon for an unidentified man who jumped into the Passaic River and refused a tossed life preserver Friday morning, authorities said.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones said officers were still searching today for the man who was reported to have jumped in the river shortly after 10:30 a.m. Friday.

ManInWater1.JPGMitsu Yasukawa/The Star-LedgerRescue workers search for a homeless man who police said jumped from an AmTrak bridge and into the Passaic River near Newark.Newark Fire Chief Michael Lalor said firefighters were also searching for the man by using a fireboat and a sonar equipment.

The man apparently jumped from an Amtrak train bridge that goes over the river, Jones said.

Divers from the Newark police department and the State Police were sent to rescue the man, Jones said. Personnel on a Port Authority helicopter tossed him a life preserver but he refused it, Jones said.

Divers had to suspend the search Friday because of the incoming tide and murky conditions of the water.