Woman Threatens To Jump From RivCo Bridge, Talked Safely Down

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A woman threatened to hurl herself off of a Riverside bridge and onto a busy downtown corridor Wednesday but was talked down by police.

The jumper, whose identity was not released, was reported about 2:40 p.m. hanging from an ornamental fence on the Vine Street overcrossing at University Avenue.

Police and fire department personnel immediately shut down University in both directions, as well as Vine, snarling traffic throughout the downtown area.

For 35 minutes, the woman clung to the fence, threatening to let go and fall the nearly 25 feet below to University.

A police crisis negotiator was summoned and spoke with the distraught woman for about 15 minutes, ultimately convincing her to walk -- while holding the fence -- to the eastern side of the fence and get clear of the bridge, where officers met her.

Both University and Vine were immediately re-opened.

The woman was taken to a Riverside County psychiatric clinic for evaluation.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
If you or someone you know is considering harming themselves, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline "provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals." That number is: 1-800-273-8255

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock