Mother jumps off bridge with 2 year old child
By purplewolf
@purplewolf (462)
Canada
December 11, 2006 2:12pm CST
On Sunday Dec.3/06 at just after 7 pm a mother jumped off a bridge at Morningside Ave onto the westbound 401. They were both killed by oncoming traffic.
As I heard the news report on Monday morning I realized that I had been on the westbound 401 at just after 7 pm on Sun. Dec 3. I must have just gone past it not long before she jumped. This is the route I have taken home from my boyfriend's place almost every Sunday for the past 18 months, but yesterday was different.
As I got onto the highway a week later I couldn't help thinking about this woman and wondering what in the world would possess her to do such a thing, and take her child with her?
I couldn't help thinking what a selfish act it was, not only for her child, but for the other people affected by it. She had a large family that I'm sure was affected, not to even mention the people driving on the highway, especially the ones that hit & killed them. There I was, driving home, looking up at every bridge that I had to drive under, and realized that I was affected by it. I had not been there to see it happen and yet I was affected. I couldn't imagine the poor people that had hit them and how their lives had been altered. I know that from now on my eyes will be drawn to the bridges, checking to make sure nobody is standing on the bridge getting ready to jump.
How do you think something like this would affect a person and do you think it selfish of the woman?
3 people like this
6 responses
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Dec 06
Wow... this would be a horrific experience to have to live thru I am sure. And I have always wondered too what possesses a woman to take her own life who has many children. Who will take care of their kids, and how will they go on in life to know their Mom did something like this to herself, and another sibling as well. Just makes me Glad I know a God and he is there to bring me thru anything and when I am feeling down, I can go to him in Prayer.
@purplewolf (462)
• Canada
21 Dec 06
that's why I think it was a selfish act, as she wasn't thinking of anyone but herself. No concern for the people they left behind, or the people that would find them.
@remaster74 (4064)
• Greece
19 Dec 06
I do understand her actions, believe me. But she was selfish, that's for sure. She had to leave the poor child behind. And don't you worry about the family. They are the ones probably who made her do that. And the second that I'm against, is the trauma that left to the people who had witnessed her fall.
1 person likes this
@purplewolf (462)
• Canada
19 Dec 06
I can't say that the family necessarily had anything to do with it as they say she was suffering from depression. I do think that it would be very traumatic for the witnesses though and thank God I wasn't one of them! It was so close that it must have happened just after I went through that exit.
@sunrisekn (1466)
• United States
11 Dec 06
You know, I truly can't imagine the despair this woman must have felt. I suffered from Postpartum depression, so I know what thoughts can go through your mind about raising a good child, being good parents, but thankfully, I never had the psychosis part, but she may have been suffering with that. It's hard to tell, but I do feel sorry for the family. They must be tormented.
@purplewolf (462)
• Canada
12 Dec 06
That's what I mean by the other people affected. Not only the people who hit them in the car, but also those they leave behind. She did have depression, but the child was two, so it's hard to imagine it was post partum. I have suffered from depression for most of my life, but I couldn't imagine getting that desperate. I'm sure some members of the family are feeling guilty that they didn't do more to help her. I don't recall hearing anything about the child's father and wonder if it was one of those custody things, where the parent losing custody would rather kill the child than see the other parent have custody. It didn't sound like she was in an abusive marriage or anything.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
15 Dec 06
WOW it really makes me want to check the bridges I drive under too. It is sad that she thought it was important to bring her child down with her. She must have been severly depressed if she thought suiside was the only way out.
Stories like this is why I dont watch the news. It breaks my heart to hear that a child was harmed because of a selfish ack by the parent or guardian.
1 person likes this
@purplewolf (462)
• Canada
18 Dec 06
I stopped watching the news many years ago as well. Then I decided that was kind of like an ostrich with their head in the sand. Even though most of it is bad, at least I am aware of what goes on around me and more cautious. I still looked at the bridges on my way home this weekend, but hopefully with time I will be able to stop doing that.
@immadismom (475)
• United States
16 Dec 06
This is a horrible story, so sad. And I agree that it is extremely selfish. I cannot imagine that anything in this world could be that bad. And that person will never know how many people that affects. Not only the family, but the people in the cars that hit them, and the rescue workers who had to deal with the aftermath. There is an endless list of people who will be deeply affected, and probably need counseling to deal with that. As a parent, I cannot imagine ever bringing harm to your child, no matter what.
1 person likes this
@purplewolf (462)
• Canada
18 Dec 06
that's why I consider it selfish. The woman obviously didn't care about the people that would be affected by her behaviour, she was only thinking of herself and ending her torment.
@vhansen (2029)
• United States
15 Dec 06
I don't understand her taking the child with her.Okay,so you feel your life sucks and you can't go on..GET HELP.If you are so depressed you feel you have to kill yourself,that's YOUR choice.You don't take someone out with you,especially not an innocent child.And then the way she did it! OMG those poor people! I think I'd have to have a shrink to deal with it.Really,that would be the only way I could.Selfish? Perhaps she was.I tend to think it was more like revenge.The world treated her bad so she wanted to hurt and shock as many people in it as possible.Maybe that's why she took the child..so even if no one felt bad for killing her,they would the child and always remember what she'd done.
1 person likes this
@purplewolf (462)
• Canada
18 Dec 06
YOu could be right about revenge. I've heard of cases where there was a custody battle and one parent is so desperate not to lose the child that they kill them both so the other parent can't have them. Even though it may be for revenge, I think that's a selfish attitude. The poor child deserves a chance to have their life and who's to say they wouldn't be better off with the other parent?
