Community Corner

In One Week, a Protest, Car Fire and Near-Suicide

Tappan Zee Bridge houses three major happenings over one week

Over the course of six days, a one-man protest, car fire and armed suicide attempt all on the had Rockland authorities scrambling to clear the incidents for the 135,000 commuters the span sees daily.

The most recent incident occurred Saturday morning, when a car crossing the span caught fire. The driver was able to escape unharmed, and Central Nyack Fire Department volunteers extinguished the blaze quickly and removed the vehicle from the bridge. The flames were powerful enough to char the Tappan Zee's deck and traffic barrier.

Just a few hours prior, a man drove back and forth across the bridge until running out of fuel; he then exited his car with the. Two bridge workers—William Kay and Domenick V. Giovinazzo—approached the 32-year-old, assuming he was having car troubles. They soon discovered he was suicidal and had a gun, although he never threatened the two men.

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Authorities were able to take the man into custody and transport him to Westchester Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation. Police said the man has not been hit with a crime, but may face a possible criminal possession of a weapon charge.

Last Monday, the bridge made national headlines when Michael Davitt—a 54-year-old Garnerville man— on a rope ladder. Davitt hung between the bridge and Hudson River for three hours, touting a homemade sign that blasted the Rockland County government.

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Davitt lost his job with the county in 2008 and was released shortly after the stunt on . He is due back in court this week on misdemeanour charges.


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