Woman dies after jumping off Deception Pass Bridge

Searchers found the body of a woman who jumped from Deception Pass bridge Wednesday afternoon. At approximately, 2:05 p.m., two witnesses reported seeing a woman jump off the west side of the bridge, which rises 180 feet above the water.

February 11, 2009 6:54 pm
Emergency personnel recovered the body of a woman witnesses said jumped off the Deception Pass Bridge Wednesday afternoon.
Emergency personnel recovered the body of a woman witnesses said jumped off the Deception Pass Bridge Wednesday afternoon.

Searchers found the body of a woman who jumped from Deception Pass bridge Wednesday afternoon.

At approximately, 2:05 p.m., two witnesses reported seeing a woman jump off the west side of the bridge, which rises 180 feet above the water.

Marv Koorn, Chief of North Whidbey Fire and Rescue, said witnesses saw the woman hit the water below.

Emergency personnel searched the waters east of the bridge. About 55 minutes later, the woman’s body was discovered by a State Parks boat floating near Hoypus Point.

“We had lots of boats and lots of folks working together,” said Capt. John Aydelotte of Vessel Assist. He said State Parks and Vessel Assist boats were in the water within a matter of minutes.

The Island County Coroner is on scene identifying the body, Koorn said.

Firefighters, personnel from the Island County Sheriff’s Office and the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the search. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy helicopters scoured the waters for the woman.