Woman Falls from Brickell Avenue Drawbridge in Shocking Miami Incident
MIAMI – A woman is recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital after falling from the Brickell Avenue drawbridge on Saturday morning, in a chaotic incident that stunned bystanders and raised serious concerns about public safety and bridge protocol.
According to Miami police, the incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. when the drawbridge — which connects downtown Miami to Brickell — began to rise while the woman was still walking across it. As the bridge tilted upward, she was seen attempting to climb and hold on before losing her grip and falling to the pavement below. The drawbridge spans approximately 90 feet when horizontal.
Witnesses Report Erratic Behavior
Multiple witnesses reported that the woman was acting erratically before the fall. One bystander, Conor Walsh, told reporters:
“She was trying to climb up the bridge. As she got halfway up, she was holding on to the side and then she just dropped.”
Police confirmed that the bridge tender told them the woman had been “causing a scene” before the bridge began rising. One witness described her as “dancing and playing,” while another claimed she appeared “under the influence of something.”
The bridge tender reportedly told officers that the woman had been masturbating on the bridge. That detail has not yet been confirmed by police, and her identity and medical condition have not been released.
Emergency Response
First responders arrived on scene within minutes. The woman was stabilized and transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. One officer assisting at the scene was cut during the rescue and also taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to Walsh, officers struggled to restrain the woman during the emergency response:
“It was a big struggle to hold her still and stop making it worse.”
Questions About Safety Protocols
The incident has reignited debate about pedestrian safety and operational protocols for Miami’s drawbridges, particularly in high-traffic areas like Brickell. With the bridge opening multiple times daily to accommodate boat traffic, the potential for accidents remains high — especially when combined with unpredictable human behavior.
At this time, police have not stated whether proper warnings or alarms were issued prior to the bridge’s rise. Surveillance footage is being reviewed, and an investigation is ongoing.
