Grand River jumper, 20, dies

PORTLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - A 20-year-old man jumped into the Grand River off the Goodwin Road Bridge on Tuesday and drowned. His body was found at around 3:20 p.m., according to the Michigan State Police.

Jeremiah Mathew Carruth was a student at Baker College in Owosso. He, along with three friends, jumped into the river at around 2 p.m. to swim.

State police from the Ionia post were dispatched to the bridge after receiving a call about a group of people trespassing.

The Goodwin Road Bridge has many structural problems, Ionia County Sheriff Dwain Dennis said, and the road leading up to it has been closed for 15 years.

While en route, a representative of Ionia County Central Dispatch contacted the responding troopers, saying that someone had possibly drowned in the Grand River.

The Ionia County Sheriff's Office dive team was sent to the river to search for the man. Although Carruth's body was located, attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful.

His relatives have been notified. An autopsy will be performed to determine Carruth's official cause of death.

Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor.

The sheriff's department has been called to the bridge 10 times this year to deal with people jumping into the river, Dennis said.

There are signs posted in the area, warning people of the dangers associated with jumping.