Suicidal woman saved in daring I-580 police rescue
Published: March 17, 2005
A 29-year-old San Ramon woman was rescued Wednesday night from a sign attached to the Hacienda Drive overcrossing of Interstate 580, with two police officers literally pulling her up from certain serious injury, and possible death.
Dublin and Pleasanton officers were told at 8:53 p.m. Wednesday of a woman threatening to jump from the overpass onto the freeway below. Dublin Officer Todd Gore and Pleasanton Officer Randy Paulson arrived to find the woman sitting on the bridge’s concrete railing; she had already climbed an 8-foot chain-link fence to get there.
The woman told police, “Let go of me, I want to die,” according to Pleasanton police Lt. Bob Lyness, and she then jumped from the railing onto a green freeway instructional sign attached to the overpass. The woman was holding onto the edge of the sign by her fingertips, police said.
Gore grabbed the woman’s right arm, and she let go with her left hand. Paulson, also having climbed over the chain-link fence, then grabbed the woman’s left hand. Together, their grips were all that kept the woman from a plunge to the pavement below.
Both officers then lifted the woman to safety; she was taken for psychiatric evaluation.
“These officers risked their lives to save the woman’s, and they went above and beyond the call, clearly,” Lyness said.
Dublin police Lt. Brett Keteles said this morning he has already recommended Gore receive a commendation for his actions. Lyness said Pleasanton police brass will discuss a similar citation for Paulson.
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