News: Woman falls to her death when drawbridge opens in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – A woman was killed in an accident that occurred along a drawbridge in West Palm Beach Monday afternoon, according to WPTV.
Police said it happened shortly after 1 p.m. as the woman was walking with a bicycle from east to west on the Royal Park Bridge, which connects West Palm Beach to the island of Palm Beach. She was within 10 feet of the barrier arms that halt traffic when the drawbridge started to rise.
A man standing on the other side of the barrier arms attempted to grab her as she clung to a railing, but could not hold on. The woman fell through a gap in the road and plunged five to six stories below the bridge onto a concrete landing. The woman died at the scene. Her name has not yet been released, but police said she was an older woman and possibly a West Palm Beach resident.
The bridge was shut down for about six hours while investigators worked the scene. Police are trying to determine why the draw bridge started going up before it was cleared of all pedestrians, and are investigating whether there were any violations of safety protocols.
Have you or a loved one been the victim of an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, contact the Hickey Law Firm to tell us about your case. Our Miami personal injury lawyers will fight on your behalf to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for your medical bills and other accident-related expenses. If you would like to schedule a free consultation regarding your particular case, reach out to us online, call 888-913-4296 or text 844-984-1937.
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