Crime & Safety
Troopers Pull Suicidal Woman From Burlington County Overpass: Video
Video posted by NJ State Police shows troopers talking to the woman, who was sitting on an I-95 overpass, before pulling her to safety.
MOUNT LAUREL, NJ — State troopers got a suicidal 18-year-old woman safely off a Burlington County highway overpass recently, and New Jersey State Police are sharing resources for anyone in emotional distress.
State police shared body camera footage of the Nov. 29 interaction, and urged anyone experiencing a mental health crisis to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
The 18-year-old woman was sitting on the State Highway 38 overpass on I-95 that afternoon, video shows. Troopers Michael Basti and Stephen McDonald from Troop "C" Bordentown Station arrived shortly after 2:30 p.m.
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Basti sat next to the young woman, asking her name and what was wrong.
"My name's Mike," said Basti. "Where are you coming from today? What happened to your hand? Are you okay?"
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The woman did not appear to speak. Trooper Basti kept asking which way she came from and what design she had on her shirt, trying to establish communication.
"We're just here to talk to you, make sure you're okay," he said while several other troopers looked on.
State police said troopers determined the woman was "distraught and was contemplating jumping from the bridge."
"They made a determination that they needed to take action in order to save the woman’s life," the NJSP said.
Eventually, several troopers grabbed the woman and pulled her to safety away from the edge. Basti is heard asking if she is all right.
Mount Laurel EMS arrived a short time later and took the woman to a nearby hospital for further treatment, according to state police.
Anyone needing to speak with a crisis/suicide prevention expert can also call 988 in New Jersey and nationwide.
According to a poll conducted by Stockton University, 58 percent of New Jersey residents said they or someone close to them experienced mental health issues. Of those saying they had experienced problems, 68 percent said that mental health had gotten worse during the pandemic.
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