A woman died after jumping from a freeway overpass in San Bruno during a police pursuit and standoff Monday night, according to the South San Francisco Police Department.
The incident began around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, when South San Francisco officers located a vehicle connected to a woman who had reportedly been involved in an earlier pursuit with another law enforcement agency. Police said she also had multiple outstanding arrest warrants.
When officers attempted to contact the woman, police said she displayed a pair of scissors and entered the driver’s seat of the vehicle. An officer used a stun gun, but it was ineffective. The woman then drove away, prompting officers to pursue her.
The chase continued into San Bruno. According to police, the woman repeatedly rammed a South San Francisco patrol vehicle while attempting to get away. Officers later used tire-deflation devices, eventually stopping the vehicle on the Sneath Lane overpass above Interstate 280.
Standoff Develops on Sneath Lane Overpass
After the vehicle was disabled, the woman remained inside and did not respond to officers’ efforts to get her out, police said.
A crisis negotiation team was brought to the scene and attempted to establish communication with her, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
Officers eventually fired PepperBall projectiles into the vehicle. Police said the woman then exited and ran toward the guardrail along the overpass.
Officers used a less-lethal sponge round in an effort to stop her, but it did not prevent her from continuing toward the edge. A police K-9 was also deployed, although the dog was recalled as the woman approached the guardrail.
Police said the woman then climbed over the guardrail and fell onto the freeway below.
Woman Dies After Being Taken to Trauma Center
Officers immediately stopped traffic on the freeway and began providing medical assistance, according to police. Emergency medical personnel arrived and transported the woman to a trauma center, where she later died from her injuries.
Authorities have not released the woman’s identity.
No police officers were injured during the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the pursuit, including what led to the earlier law-enforcement encounter and the woman’s actions throughout the confrontation, remain under investigation.
Anyone who may have additional information about the incident is asked to contact the South San Francisco Police Department at 650-877-8900.
