Prosecutors may bring criminal charges against cruel teen who pushed friend off 60ft bridge in Washington
Washington law enforcement said they have concluded investigations into an incident which saw a 16-year-old girl severely injured after she was pushed off a bridge at a park by a friend and fell 60 feet into the water.
Now, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is forwarding the report to the prosecutor's office for possible charges against 18-year-old Taylor Smith who allegedly pushed Jordan Holgerson off a bridge at Moulton Falls northeast of Vancouver, Washington on August 7, according to The Columbian. The suspect is reportedly cooperating with investigators, the sheriff's office reported.
The original footage of the entire incident was posted on YouTube but has since been removed. It shows Holgerson standing on the bridge with friends before a woman suddenly pushes her off the span from behind.
In a conversation with the Daily News, Holgerson's mother, Genelle, said her daughter punctured both her lungs and broke six ribs in the fall.
She informed that Jordan was also being treated for a bruised esophagus, injuries to her trachea, as well as air trapped in the lining of her lungs. “She is lucky she is not paralyzed or dead,” Genelle told the newspaper. “We’re lucky she is going to recover and not have permanent injuries.”
According to her, Taylor was apparently tired of waiting for Jordan to leap on her own.
“I’m very upset with her,” she told the newspaper. “She is an adult, and I’m sure she should have known better. She could have killed my daughter.”
At the time, Holgerson, in a conversation with KATU, said that Taylor should “realize what she did wrong” and turn herself in to the police.
Ben Peeler, the Clark County Fire Chief, said it was illegal to jump from the bridge.
“You’ve got to land in there just right or you can get hurt,” Peeler said. “Every summer we have a couple of people out there who get hurt, and people do drown.”
“The river can have swift currents and water depths can vary,” the website for the 387-acre park reads. “Park users swim at their own risk. Parents are urged to be vigilant watching children near the water. Please, no diving off of the bridge.”