Bridge jumping becoming dangerous trend

A dangerous new teen craze is making a splash on YouTube and in Eastern Iowa.

Many videos can be found on YouTube of teens bridge jumping off local bridges here in Cedar Rapids and around Linn County.

Here's just one example (story continues below video):

The Linn County Sheriffs Office says that a bridge near Palo is a typical spot for jumpers.

"We've had calls to the Blairs Ferry Road bridge over the Cedar River, and so that seems to be a popular place for this," Col. John Stuelke said.

Here's a video of someone jumping from that bridge (story continues below video):

On June 30, many of the teens at the Pleasant Creek State Park beach near Palo said that they had either jumped themselves, or know people who often do.

"I've heard a lot of people do it, and I've heard it's fun," said Zoey Mcdonald of Marion.

Despite knowing the dangers, many still tested it out and say they would do it again.

"There could be logs and stuff and you could land on one, but I lived," said Melissa Point of Marion.

"It's the adrenaline that really gets to you," added Cameron Wiec of Cedar Rapids.

Stuelke says it's not a safe practice and warns of what could happen.

"If you would hit your head and you're knocked unconscious, or for some reason you do enough damage to your spinal cord to be paralyzed, there's no way you're going to get out of the river," Stuelke said.

He points out that because the Cedar River is dirty, you can't see what is in the water. "You don't know where the rocks are in the river," Stuelke said.

In some places, it's not legal.

"It is illegal in Cedar Rapids to swim in the Cedar River. It is not illegal in the county, but we certainly don't recommend it," Stuelke said.

A simple misdemeanor and a fine will be given to those who jump in Cedar Rapids. But Stuelke said, legal or illegal, you shouldn't do it.