Elmhurst Police Talk Suicidal Woman Off a Bridge Monday

Elmhurst police talked a suicidal woman off of the Canadian National Railroad bridge over Route 83 Monday night, according to information provided by Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth.

The woman came to the attention of Elmhurst police after Villa Park police took a report of a missing 31-year-old who was suicidal. At about 10:30 p.m., police tracked the woman's cell phone to the area of First and West avenues in Elmhurst, Ruth said. Several Elmhurst officers, including Steve Wright and Tim Westering, responded to the area to help with the search.

Police determined she may have been on the Canadian National Railroad tracks, so they requested all Metra and Canadian National train traffic be stopped. At about 11 p.m., the woman was located on the Canadian National bridge, directly over Route 83. She was threatening to kill herself by jumping off of the bridge, according to Ruth.

Elmhurst police immediately closed Route 83 in both directions from North Avenue to St. Charles Road. Addison police assisted with the road closure.

Officers Wright and Westering began talking to the woman, calming and reassuring her, Ruth said. After several minutes, she agreed to take the officers' hands, and she was escorted safely off the bridge. She was taken to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

Regular traffic resumed a short time later.

"All of the officers involved did an outstanding job in establishing a rapport with the distraught victim, which ultimately saved her life," Ruth said. "They did an excellent job. We are proud of their attention to duty and their performance under extreme circumstances."