Park Police Officers Thwart Attempted Suicide

Officer Scott Huther was heading south across the Golden Gate Bridge late on the morning of February 19th when he saw a vehicle in front of him stop in the midst of heavy traffic half way across the bridge. The driver got out, climbed over the guardrail and the pedestrian railing on the west side, and prepared to jump off the bridge. Huther stopped and followed her to the walkway railing, calling to her in attempt to stop her from jumping. He continued to talk to her as she leaned over the side of the bridge, but she told him that she’d jump if he came any closer. Huther radioed for assistance and was joined by sergeant Todd Roth, a trained hostage negotiator. Roth established rapport with the woman and worked his way to a closer but safe distance on the walkway above her. He got her to talk with him and found that she was distraught over her disabled son and pending divorce. After about 30 minutes, she accepted Roth’s invitation to come back over the railing for a cigarette and further conversation. As she neared the railing, trained bridge personnel, who were secured by tethers to the bridge, grabbed the woman and pulled her to safety. Roth then took her to a state police satellite office in the bridge’s east parking lot, where she was turned over to state officers and taken to Marin General Hospital for assistance. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of Roth and Huther, this potential suicide of a distraught young mother was prevented.