I think the guy that jumped off the local bridge this morning and tied up traffic for several hours and put the lives of rescue teams and law enforcement at risk should have been offered "voluntary suicide". TARRYTOWN - A Bronx man who jumped from the Tappan Zee Bridge into the Hudson River this morning died of his injuries, the Westchester County Medical Examiner's office reported. The 44-year-old man "just popped out of his car and took one great leap," said State police station commander Sgt. John Antonelli. "There was no chance to talk to him," he said witnesses told him. The man stopped his north-bound 2006 Jeep Liberty so suddenly that the tractor trailer behind him nearly crashed into him, Antonelli said. He was moving his arms in the water slightly after the jump, Antonelli said. The jumper was reported at 8:51 a.m. from the westbound side of the bridge. There was nothing in his car to explain his action, Antonelli said. There was a kitchen knife on the front seat, he said, but no blood anywhere. Several lanes on the bridge were blocked briefly, causing heavy delays, but they reopened by 9:05 a.m. Nyack, Piermont and Tarrytown rescue boats responded to the scene. The man was taken to Westchester Medical Center, where he was initially listed as being in critical condition. The medical examiner's office identified the dead man as Lee Yoselovsky, 44, of Blackstone Avenue in the Bronx. No autopsy is planned. Over the past 10 years, nearly 30 people have jumped to their deaths from the bridge. The last attempt came Nov. 10, when a 40-year-old Chappaqua resident was rescued from the Hudson River after jumping from the bridge. The last fatality was on March 20, when 28-year-old Sean Michael McKeever of Sullivan County jumped to his death.

I think that if they are living because of some machines, there is no need to extend life. On the other hand, even though I know that it may be hard, we have the right and the duty to live until the last minute (I mean until life as itself is over).

I think you have to be able to choose death to choose life. To deprive someone of the right to die is to deprive them of one of the most fundamental things there is -- being able to take responsibility for CHOOSING to live, instead of being "stuck with life". Death isn't evil, dark, or wrong. We don't have a good word for what it is. We fear it, we have a lot of ideas about it, stories about it... but aside from all that, life has a different quality when one consciously chooses to live than when one is just drifting along, or feels like they must continue for some reason that isn't choiceful.

Yes, they should have the choice.

For me, to be trapped within a pain inflicted body and not having the ability to ask for assistance or to get any relief is a fate worse than death. Prolonging the life of people in such a condition, beyond their wishes, should be considered cruel and unusual punishment.

Lee Yoselovsky a good man. I have known him since we were both 18. Although I frequently saw him over the years, I knew him to be a very kind and generous person. I am very sad to hear about the tragedy of Levy. I would like his family to know that I have many good memories of him. May his family be consoled. He will be missed by all. Sincerely, An old friend.