The 17-year-old girl who caught Palm Coast’s attention on June 20 when she walked outside the grille of the Palm Coast Parkway overpass above I-95 and threatened to jump was again on the overpass just past noon today, and was again rescued by firefighters and law enforcement after a 45-minute ordeal.
The girl was reported to be on the overpass by several callers to 911, the first at 12:12 p.m., when she was reported to be heading eastbound from the outside of the protective fencing. A man was walking alongside on the other side and would soon be joined by another man who attempted to talk her down before public safety officials arrived. Palm Coast Parkway westbound was shut down, as was I-95, immobilizing traffic on the highway for long distances.
The girl was in tears, and soon female sheriff’s deputies who knew that the girl preferred not to deal with men were with her–and handcuffing her hands to the fence to keep her from falling, while awaiting the Palm Coast Fire Department’s positioning below so firefighters could again raise the ladder bucket to claim the girl.
“Myself along with three civilians were attempting to get her down,” one of the sheriff’s deputies reported. “I advised the two male civilians to stand back as the female does not like males. I asked the female civilian, to talk to the female while I stood by for a chance to grab her arms through the fence. As the female placed her left arms close to the fence. I was able to slip my arms through the holes in the fence securing her arm, then helped secure the other arm while I waited for a second unit.” Deputy Crista Rainey, who had talked her down in June, talked her through the rescue again this afternoon, taking her into the fire truck’s bucket.
The girl seemed to struggle somewhat when she had been lowered to the ground and as firefighters secured her to a gurney. That was at 12:50 p.m. Rainey then rode with the girl to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where she was turned over to hospital personnel, with a Baker Act form.
“I implore the Department of Children and Families to intervene quickly and get this juvenile the help she needs before it is too late,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “She is crying-out for help and I am fearful that one time she will be successful. The quick response and combined efforts of FCSO deputies, Crisis Negotiations, Communications Center, Fire Rescue saved a life today. I hope that she gets the help she desperately needs.”
The following resources are available for individuals in crisis:
In Flagler: The Crisis Triage and Treatment Unit (CTTU) is a crisis assessment and referral service for Flagler County residents experiencing behavioral health crisis. It is located at 301 Justice Lane in the Brown & Brown Outpatient building at the Vince Carter Sanctuary in Bunnell. This program is limited to individuals escorted to the program by law enforcement between the hours of noon and midnight daily. Law enforcement is able to transport individuals to SMA to assess and determine the appropriate clinical disposition. When required and appropriate, SMA then transports the individual to a receiving facility in Volusia County.
In Daytona Beach: Stewart-Marchman Act Corporation Crisis Center
1220 Willis Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Crisis Line: (800) 539 – 4228
Available 24 hours.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800/273-8255 (TALK), or use the online Lifeline Crisis Chat, both available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255.
People 60 and older can call the Institute on Aging’s 24-hour, toll-free Friendship Line at 800-971-0016. IOA also makes ongoing outreach calls to lonely older adults.
If you are concerned for someone else, read about warning signs here. For additional resources, see the Speaking of Suicide website.
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ASF says
WHERE IS DCF??? Do NOT return this girl home to whatever doubtful “supervision” she had before the last two incidents. She desperately needs an inpatient Psych evaluation and follow-up in a secure environment.
JoAnne says
Apparently there is something going on at home to let this happen again so soon. As far as the overpass put some razor wire on the edges of it to prevent climbing with a sign. She definitely needs in patient help.
Vincent Neri says
Sheriff Staly is correct that “she is crying out for help.” She is crying out for the help to find happiness. Misery compels us to seek happiness. All of us want to be happy and the truth is that a degree of happiness is required to live because without some degree of peace life is not possible. Their is no shortage of happiness within us. It is waiting to be triggered and can be taught. Learning how to properly access happiness leads to far better outcomes. The fact that this person attempted suicide twice in a short period of time tells all of us that the metal health system in place has failed. Most people know very little when it comes to the mind and this is because the educational system teaches people very little about it. With no users manual for the mind or the brain in action which is the most complex creation on earth it is no wonder why things do not go well for mass numbers of people. Life will no doubt hand each of us a substantial amount of suffering but their is also a substantial amount of happiness if we know how to access it. Both ignorance and education present challenges but ignorance only leads to more suffering whereby education leads to comfort.
Frank W says
I feel badly. I was caught up in the traffic stoppage during this incident and not happy.
I hope she finds some peace.
cynthia says
It’s time to do something to prevent anyone from being able to climb over the fence at this overpass. And if the parents of this girl are involved with her care, they need to be held responsible for the time and cost of rescuing her again.
Whoa says
Uh, she doesn’t like males? Okay, well obviously she doesn’t like LIFE either. This world is so backwards that this minor has a better chance at getting help if she commits a crime and gets locked up than for mental health. However, for some reason the first responders are able to articulate her cry’s of “not liking men” but they miss the obvious sign of how is it this deeply, troubled child is able to do the same thing in such a short period of time.
Jimbo99 says
I don’t know what the solution is here, 2nd attempt within 5 weeks. Hope they figure it out this time.
Mythoughts says
I would like her family be interviewed to find out what could be so troubling to this young girl? There is obvious something very wrong.
cgm says
Send her a bill so the tax payers can get their money back.
thankfully I wasnt on the way to the Mayo clinic for my wifes BC surgery follow up and only got stuck in the traffic on the way home.
How did this happen twice, nobody watch her at home or did she get away from a group home.
Ugene says
If I was in traffic I would be so mad.. get her some help or something before it affects another life, god forbid she jumps through a moving vehicle and kills someone else in the process. Smh. And how was she able to get there a second time??
Percy's mother says
I’m absolutely disgusted by some of the previous comments posted here regarding this poor girl and her story.
Having worked in a level 2 trauma center for 20 years, which also housed a behavioral health unit, there are some horrific stories I could tell about young people and what they endure in their own homes, and that would encompass physical abuse, emotional abuse as well as continual forced SEXUAL ABUSE at the hands of their own family members, some even becoming pregnant from constant forced sexual contact from their own fathers, brothers, uncles, mother’s boyfriends, extended family, babysitters, foster care, and on and on and on. Some of these poor children / young adults dissociate and/or compartmentalize and arrive screaming in psychic pain because they’re in a constant emotional state of the actual physical abuse even when it isn’t happening at the moment.
I am not saying this is the case with this lady, but I know enough to see the signs.
Some of the horrific stories I was privy to still stay with me 5, 10, 15 and 20 years later. Some of the horrific stories are so awful it’s hard for healthcare workers to deal with. But these stories happen multiple times a day every day in a healthcare setting housing a behavioral health unit.
Sometimes the physical, emotional, mental and intellectual damage done to these young people from continued abuse from the time they’re toddlers is beyond repair and it’s terribly, terribly sad to know their histories and come to the conclusion that really there isn’t much that can be done to repair their souls.
Medication is not the end all and be all for these tortured souls because sometimes no one can repair a fractured psyche. AND there is no trust in anyone or anything.
You people have no idea what goes on in society and especially in closed families who tend to hide their dirty laundry within the family unit.
I know nothing about this young lady’s mental and emotional health circumstances, but from past history dealing with behavioral health issues, this particular case smells of extreme abuse in some way, shape or form within or outside the family unit, which this poor young lady is desperate to flee even to the point of taking her own life by attempting to jump off a bridge into oncoming heavy traffic.
All you commenters on this story who want their tax money back and/or who are/were “mad” about sitting in traffic are shameful and disgusting human beings, and thankfully, I hopefully don’t know any of you. What shameful specimens of “humanity” you people are!!!
Guido says
I sure wish I had Percy’s mother and the rest of the advice found in these comments before my son’s third attempt (sarcasm)which was successful. Oh, by the way there was absolutely no abuse at home. He was given the best care but fooled us all by telling everyone he was well again. Depression was the cause. What caused the depression, none of your business!
ASF says
Family secrets can be deadly. I say that generally–no disrespect to you. My sympathies as regards the loss of your son. I sincerely hope this young woman gets the help she needs. Better access to mental health services is a critical issue.
Guido says
ASF, that comment about family secrets is way off base and in bad taste. Yes, I hope this young lady will get the help she needs.
Makenna says
sounds like denial
Doug says
I’m not a mental health expert, but twice she’s attempted suicide. Twice she was transported to a crisis center and evaluated. Twice she was discharged after a mandatory 3-day stay. Sadly, most who attempt suicide and draw attention to themselves are looking for just that, the attention. But, unfortunately, if someone wants to end it, they mostly do without an audience. I truly hope that’s not the case for this young lady.