UPDATE: Authorities investigate suspected suicide near Highway 10 overpass

By Brandi Makuski

TOWN OF HULL — Authorities are investigating a suspected suicide after a man was found dead near the U.S. Highway 10 West overpass Saturday afternoon.

The Portage County Communications Center received a report of an unresponsive man on County Road X near the Highway 10 overpass at about 1:17 p.m. Aug. 8. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Portage County Sheriff Mike Lukas said the man had fallen from the bridge and was not struck by a vehicle.

“We’re treating it as an active death investigation, but it appears to be a suicide,” Lukas said.

Dewey Fire Chief Brian Lepper said his department was conducting annual hose testing at its station when the call came in. Because crews were nearby, they responded and were the first fire personnel to arrive.

Lepper said Dewey firefighters assessed the scene before turning it over to the Hull Fire Department when its crews arrived.

Hull Fire Chief Nicholas Proulx said his crews remained on the scene at about 2:30 p.m., awaiting the arrival of the Portage County medical examiner.

Proulx said traffic was being rerouted between Sawmill Road and North Second Drive while crews remained at the scene. Lukas said the detoured traffic was causing backups on other major roads in the area and asked motorists to be patient.

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Stevens Point Police Department, Dewey and Hull fire departments, Portage County Ambulance and the Portage County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The man’s name has not been released.

The death remains under investigation.