SALEM, Ore. — Police believe a chance encounter with good Samaritans helped a woman who was mentally ill in Salem on Monday morning.
Krizti Margraves and her husband Dylan said the woman appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis, when they spotted her on the D Street overpass. The woman appeared to be taking action to harm herself.
“It was so surreal, it was like it wasn't even happening,” said Dylan, who suggested a lifesaving miracle was already in progress before they saw the woman.
“Earlier in the car, we were praying that we would be used as a vessel to help and that God's will would be done with today,” said Dylan.
Just before the rescue, the couple had been driving home from a doctor’s appointment.
“We were taking a route that I usually don't take,” said Krizti, who was driving. She couldn’t explain why she took the D Street overpass across Interstate 5, but there they were, and suddenly, there was the woman in crisis.
“I saw her on the right-hand side of the road climbing a fence to jump,” recalled Krizti, who immediately pulled over. Dylan jumped out of the car and sprinted towards the woman, who he said started climbing faster.
“I just knew I had to tackle her before she jumped over the side of the railing,” said Dylan.
“She was all the way to the top,” added Krizti.
By the time Dylan reached the woman, two other good Samaritans had stopped to help. They caught the woman after Dylan peeled her off the chain link fence.
“Once they got her to the ground, I ran over and embraced her and we were all hugging her,” said Krizti.
“We were all just crying and telling her how much she's loved,” added Dylan.
Soon, Salem police, firefighters and an ambulance arrived and took the woman to a nearby hospital.
“They did the right thing,” said Salem Police Sgt. Ryan Demmer. “I’m glad it ended well, so it’s hard to second guess how they responded,” he said.
Sgt. Demmer’s advice to people who encounter a similar incident was to intervene if they feel comfortable, and if not, to be a good witness and call 911.
Krizti said the woman she and her husband helped didn't speak English, but she believes in the moments that followed her rescue, they all understood each other, perfectly.
“She just kept on holding us,” said Krizti. “I knew that she was extremely thankful.”
If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis, there's help. Lines for Life is a national suicide prevention hotline with people ready to offer free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The number to call is 1-800-273-8255.