An Oregon woman was hospitalized Thursday after setting herself on fire, crashing her car and striping naked before taking a plunge off a bridge, police told The Register-Guard.
Motorists on Interstate 105 called 911 at around 12:30 p.m. saying a car appeared to be on fire and its female driver was behaving recklessly.
The 39-year-old Eugene woman continued onto the Washington-Jefferson Bridge where she crashed into a guardrail and continued a short distance before getting out and taking her clothes off, witnesses told police. She was on fire during the incident, witnesses said.
A few drivers stopped to help extinguish the car's flames while others tried pulling her back as she advanced towards the edge of the bridge.
But the woman got away and jumped off the bridge, Traffic Lieutenant Doug Mozan told The Reigster-Guard.
"I'm thankful for (all) their intervention," Mozan said.
"I am thankful for the witness who helped us piece together what happened and was trying to keep this woman from jumping off a bridge. It's unfortunate (the witness) was unsuccessful, but her efforts were nothing less than heroic."
Mozan said the woman was taken to a Springfield hospital and later transferred to another one in the Portland area. Her family recently reported her missing but her name was not immediately available. Police are investigating the incident as a suicide attempt.
After the crash a piece of the car's bumper broke off and fell over the bridge, injuring a 40-year-old woman below. That person received medical treatment for minor injuries.
Police will determine if charges are warranted against the woman.
