VERO BEACH — A Vero Beach woman who jumped from the Merrill P. Barber Bridge in to the Indian River Lagoon last week, falling more than 60 feet, has died, police said.
The woman – in her late 60’s – was pronounced dead Sunday at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce, Vero Beach police spokesman Master Officer Darrell Rivers said. Police did not release the woman’s identity out of respect for her family.
“She died as a result of her injuries,” Rivers said.
The woman’s body will be taken to the medical examiner’s office in Fort Pierce. Police closed the investigation.
The incident happened about 9 a.m. July 9 on the westbound side of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge. Several witnesses called police, saying the woman got out of her vehicle and jumped in to the water below, Rivers said.
The distance from the top of the bridge to the water is at least 65 feet, police said.
Officers used boats to locate the woman within three-to-five minutes, Rivers said. Police pulled the woman from the water.
First responders revived the woman before taking her to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Rivers said. Doctors resuscitated the woman several times after she continued to lose consciousness.
The woman was then transferred to the trauma center in Lawnwood, where she died, police said.
