Yesterday afternoon, a man fell from a 15th floor balcony at an apartment building on Roosevelt Island's River Road. A neighbor told the Daily News, "It's horrid. He's facedown on the ground. You could see his socks. I guess his shoes fell off from the impact." And, now, it appears that the man had been smoking Salvia before jumping off the building.
Roosevelt Islander posted a note it received from RI Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra: "Unfortunately, our island lost a resident this afternoon. A 21 year-old male fell to his death from his balcony at 10 River Road. PSD received the call of a male lying in the street in front of the Gristedes turnaround, and at first it was believed that he may have been hit by a car. Further investigation revealed that he was allegedly smoking Salvia and ran out onto the balcony and jumped. EMS and NYPD were on scene immediately thereafter, and the male was pronounced DOA on the scene. The investigation revealed that it was a suicide, and the body was removed by the NYC Coroner." Salvia is a plant in the mint family; according to the DEA, "The plant material is smoked for the induction of "mystical" or hallucinogenic experiences."
