Woman dies after jumping off Madonna Road overpass onto Highway 101
A woman died Friday morning after jumping off the Madonna Road overpass onto Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Obispo Police Department said.
San Luis Obispo police responded about 11 a.m. to reports of a woman hanging off the overpass above the freeway, police Lt. Fred Mickel said.
When officers arrived at the scene, the woman leapt into a southbound lane of Highway 101, Mickel said.
The CHP closed the southbound fast lane of the freeway while police and emergency personnel responded. The road was completely reopened at about 12:30 p.m., according to Caltrans District 5.
The woman died of her injuries at the scene, and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office responded to take over the incident.
Officers were unable to make contact with the woman — who was alone on the overpass — so it’s unknown what led her to jump, Mickel said. Police suspect the incident was a suicide.
Mickel declined to provide any additional details about the woman prior to notifying her next of kin.
This story was originally published November 1, 2019 at 11:34 AM.
