PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The United States Coast Guard is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man, who jumped off the Piscataqua River Bridge Wednesday night during rush hour and disappeared.

The Interstate 95 bridge receives heavy usage all day long as it serves as the main connector for traffic travelling between Maine and New Hampshire.

According to New Hampshire State Police, the man rode a bicycle onto the New Hampshire side of the bridge around 5 p.m. and started to look over the edge of the bridge.

When police officers approached him, an officer saw the man throw his wallet away, leave his bicycle behind, and dive into the river.

A three-hour search of five nautical miles, involving a 47-foot Coast Guard life boat and a Jayhawk helicopter from Cape Cod, along with Maine State Police, and the New Hampshire Marine Patrol, failed to locate the man with the search suspended around 8:30 p.m.

“I can’t remember the last time anyone survived a jump from that height,” said Paul Conner, a Coast Guard spokesman in South Portland, who has served in this region for 16 years. “We have several jumpers every year and no one has survived a jump from that height.”

Conner said the bridge’s vertical clearance is 135 feet, but the upper deck brings the height to about 160 feet.

Conner said the search has been suspended until further notice. He said New Hampshire State Police continue to investigate.

Anyone with information concerning the man should contact the Coast Guard at (207) 767-0303.