Fredericksburg, White Oak, and Falmouth rescue squads were in place for an immediate rescue attempt, pulling Deborah Myers from the Rappahannock River within seconds yesterday afternoon. smc View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

View the Stafford County community page

Woman leaps to death

Woman dies after jump from bridge over Rappahannock River.

By KARI PUGH
The Free Lance-Star

Date published: 4/27/2002

Deborah Myers turned to the state trooper who was desperately trying to save her life and whispered "I'm sorry."

Then she leaned forward and plunged more than 80 feet into the cold water of the Rappahannock River yesterday.

Rescue workers in a boat below the Interstate 95 bridge rushed to the 48-year-old Spotsylvania County woman, but Myers died a short time later at Mary Washington Hospital, state police spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said.

Police closed northbound I-95 during Myers' 90-minute standoff with the trooper, creating a 10-mile backup that paralyzed traffic through the region.

Trooper Steve Dunham, a 17-year state police veteran, was returning home from training in Richmond about 11:45 a.m. when he saw Myers walk out and sit on the edge of the bridge, her feet dangling over the edge.

He pulled over, radioed for state police to stop traffic and began talking to her.

Myers cried, rocked back and forth on the edge of the bridge and told Dunham that she split with her husband about a month ago, Caldwell said.

Authorities said she may have taken an overdose of prescription of anti-depressants before venturing out on the interstate.

Crisis negotiators from state police and the Stafford County Sheriff's Office were called to the scene, but Myers refused to speak to anyone but Dunham.

"The trooper tried to dissuade her from jumping the best he could," Stafford sheriff's Capt. David Roderick said. "He was the only person she would let near her."

Alone on the bridge with Myers, the trooper pleaded with her to come off the ledge. He motioned to her with his hands several times and was able to get about three feet away from her.

The trooper asked if she'd like to talk to her husband, but Myers said she would rather speak to her minister, Caldwell said.

Police tried to locate her pastor, but couldn't find him in time.

"Trooper Dunham listened to her and said anything he could think of to make her feel better," Caldwell said. "He was trying to do anything he could to save her life."

About 1:15 p.m., Dunham reached out and offered Myers his hand.

But when she leaned toward the water, he took a step back.

Then, after staring down for a few seconds, Myers suddenly lunged from the bridge.

Follow us on

Date published: 4/27/2002