Teen attempts suicide off I-90 bridge

A Washington State Patrol Trooper saved a 16-year-old boy who was determined to end his life by jumping off the East Channel Bridge on July 13. The teenager, a resident of Bellevue, was standing on a railing of the I-90 bridge during the busy Monday morning commute. According to press reports, the trooper had to physically pull the boy from the rail. The teenager fought with the trooper before he was taken into protective custody.

By Reporter Staff • July 14, 2009 4:37 pm
A Bellevue youth allegedly attempted suicide by trying to jump off the I-90 East Channel Bridge
A Bellevue youth allegedly attempted suicide by trying to jump off the I-90 East Channel Bridge

A Washington State Patrol Trooper saved a 16-year-old boy who was determined to end his life by jumping off the East Channel Bridge on July 13. The teenager, a resident of Bellevue, was standing on a railing of the I-90 bridge during the busy Monday morning commute.

According to press reports, the trooper had to physically pull the boy from the rail. The teenager fought with the trooper before he was taken into protective custody.

The incident began shortly after 9:30 a.m. when King County Troopers responded to reports of a suicidal subject on westbound I-90 near Bellevue, according to the Washington State Patrol. It took approximately one minute for the first trooper, Tom Zielinski, to arrive at the scene.

Zielinski observed the subject with one leg over the railing. He pulled the subject from the railing before he could jump.

While on the ground, the teenager began to fight with the trooper in an attempt to get free. After a short altercation, Zielinski was able to take him into protective custody.

The boy was transported to Harborview Medical Center for a physiological evaluation. No injuries were reported.