On the winding roads which provide access to the Devil’s Bridge, the flashing of flashing lights has become a worrying indicator for local residents. For several years, this dizzying structure which connects the communes of Sainte-Anne and Crouzet-Migette, has been the scene of numerous suicides. On Saturday, Besançon divers discovered the body of a 30-year-old man in a reservoir below.
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Many suicides in a few years
The victim from Haut-Doubs had disappeared since the day before. His vehicle was located over the weekend, near the bridge. The firefighters undertook research with the support of a dangerous environment rescue team and divers from Besançon. In a small water hole located 80 m below the structure, they found the lifeless body of the unfortunate man. He was taken care of by the funeral directors. A psychological support unit has been set up for his relatives, present on site.
History repeats itself for Joël Bôle, at the head of the town hall since 1988. “During my first mandates, I only had one case. But over the last few years, there have been a lot of them. It has become a listed place for people in suffering,” notes the mayor. A drama which revives painful memories for the chosen one. In 2018, he tried to save a young woman who came from Paris to kill herself. In the middle of the night, he had held this law student, suspended above the void. “His raincoat ended up staying in my hands. Her name was Constance. Every time there is a suicide, I see this lady’s look again. »
A “degraded” bridge
Since then, he has tried to take action to limit these desperate acts. “I wrote letters to the prefecture, we had meetings to try to find solutions. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything that can be done. When life becomes too difficult, people always manage to kill themselves. »
Last hope with extensive work, and a comprehensive repair of the structure. “The bridge is damaged. I am worried when I see heavy equipment using it and tourists crowded against this barrier which is not solid. I wrote to the chair of the Department about this in August, but I received no response. » To support his point, Joël Bôle included photos of the guardrail, broken in places. He is now awaiting help from the Department to secure the work and raise the guardrails of this building which has become dangerous.
