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Westchester Woman Rescued After Nearly Jumping From Bear Mountain Bridge

Quick action on the part of state police and others likely saved the life of a Bedford woman who family members said was threatening to jump off the Bear Mountain Bridge on Sunday.

Quick action on the part of state police and others likely saved the life of a young Bedford woman who, family members said, was threatening to jump off the Bear Mountain Bridge Sunday.

Quick action on the part of state police and others likely saved the life of a young Bedford woman who, family members said, was threatening to jump off the Bear Mountain Bridge Sunday.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

According to Sgt. Mark A. Conway of the state police in Somers, the 32-year-old woman, who is not being identified, had texted family members to tell them she was despondent and planned to kill herself by leaping from the span.

The bridge, which carries Routes 6/202 over the Hudson between Putnam/Westchester and Rockland/Orange counties, has been the scene of numerous suicide attempts, some successful and some not.

The family immediately called authorities after getting the texts, Conway said.

Troopers from the Cortlandt barracks and an officer from the New York State Park Police raced to the scene around 12:24 p.m. Other officers arrived on the scene minutes later, Conway said.

State Park Police are headquartered at the nearby Bear Mountain Park in Rockland County.

According to Conway, a car matching a description of the woman’s was found parked on Route 9D just slightly north of the east side entry to the bridge.

The woman was sitting inside the car, Conway said.

She identified herself as the woman they were looking for, he added.

The first thing she asked the officer was, Conway said: “Did my parents call you?”

She was taken into protective custody without incident and transported to Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, Conway said.

Earlier this month, a young Peekskill man took his life by leaping from the bridge.

Dalton Tompkins, 24, took a taxi cab on Thursday, March 9, and asked the driver to stop near the middle, according to published reports.

According to Tompkins’ girlfriend, Mary Goldsmith, he had been battling a drug problem for a long time but had been seeking help.

He worked long hours at Wheelabrator, an energy-from-waste plant in Peekskill, to support his infant daughter, Goldsmith told Daily Voice.

She said Tompkins was always there for family and friends. Those that were close to him were left in disbelief and shock over his untimely death.

To read more about Tompkins, click here.

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