Drunk BC man taken into custody after getting a lift from raising bridge

| July 23, 2019 in Provincial

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Police are urging pedestrians to follow warning signals after a drunk BC pedestrian took a risky ride on a moveable bridge in Victoria as it raised to allow the passage of a marine vehicle.

Witnesses called police after seeing the man taking a lift on the Johnson Street bridge, which raised to allow a barge to pass between Victoria's upper and lower harbours.

Officers received the call shortly before 8 pm on Friday, but by the time they arrived later that evening the bridge had been fully raised and the man was braced against the bridge while hanging onto a railing. 

The bridge was lowered and police took the man, who was drunk, into police custody before driving him home. Fortunately, he was not injured. 

"It was determined that the man bypassed the bridge safety systems and went onto the bridge after the lift sequence began," Victoria Police said in a release. 

"Officers are urging people to follow the warnings and signage at the bridge and not to attempt to cross the bridge after any yellow warning light is present."

Police are not pursuing charges against the man.

With files from The Canadian Press

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