Firefighters Rescue Jumper Who Forces Closure of 5 Freeway

Firefighters on Monday rescued a 40-year-old woman who tried to jump off a bridge over the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Anaheim.

Firefighters and crisis negotiators were called just after 1 p.m. when the woman threatened to jump from the La Palma Avenue overcrossing, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt, who assisted in bringing the woman to safety.

Authorities shut down westbound traffic on La Palma at Brookhurst Street and the northbound lanes of the freeway, Wyatt said.

“Ultimately, at one point she did try to jump and somehow, by the grace of God, a Fullerton firefighter managed to hang on to her belt loop,” Wyatt said.

Firefighters then cut holes in a fence to get to the woman, he said.

“I was able to get my arms through the hole we cut and held on to her from behind,” Wyatt said.

Firefighters then used nylon webbing to secure her to the fence until they could cut a bigger hole that she could walk through, Wyatt said.

The 90-minute rescue resulted in a major traffic back-up. The woman, whose name was withheld, was taken to an area hospital to be evaluated, Wyatt said.

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City News Service