Trouble on the State Street bridge

The State Street bridge is a trunnion bascule bridge over the Chicago River, and it’s raised periodically to allow passage of sailboats. A Marina City resident learned this in a painful and most undignified way on August 28, 1981.

Despite alarms and barricades that are activated before the bridge is raised, 73-year-old Mary Foley ventured out onto the north span. As it rose, she clung to the bridge as long as she could, then slid down toward a gap at the base of the bridge. A police officer grabbed her, saving her from falling into the river.

She was taken to the hospital with a broken leg.

The following year, a 25-year-old man was not as fortunate when he ran into trouble near the State Street bridge. On a hot day in mid July, Al Burltey was visiting Marina City and decided to swim across the Chicago River.

He did not make it to the other side. Despite a quick arrival by a rescue helicopter, Burltey drowned in 20 feet of water. He was found about 20 feet from one of the Marina City docks. About 100 people watched the rescue attempt from the State and Dearborn Street bridges.