Washington State Patrol Trooper Pulls Suicidal Teenager from Bridge Railing

A Washington State Patrol Trooper saved the life of a 16-year-old boy by physically pulling him from the East Channel Bridge railing of I-90 during the morning commute. The boy was determined to take his own life as he fought with the trooper before he was taken into protective custody.

At approximately 9:40am King County Troopers responded to reports of a suicidal subject westbound I-90 near Bellevue. Trooper Tom Zielinski was the first to arrive on scene (approximately 1 minute after the call was broadcasted) and observed the subject with one leg over the railing and in the process of jumping over the East Channel Bridge. Trooper Zielinski quickly reacted and pulled the subject from the railing before he was able to jump over. While on the ground the subject began to fight with the trooper in an attempt to get free. After a short altercation Trooper Zielinski was able to take him into protective custody.

No injuries were reported. The subject, a 16-year-old Bellevue resident, was transported to Harborview Medical Center for a physiological evaluation.