Eighteen-Year-Old Charged After Pushing Friend Off Bridge To “Help Her” . . . Resulting In Multiple Broken Bones
jonathanturley
There is an interesting case in Washington state where Taylor Smith, 18, is facing a charge of reckless endangerment after she pushed 16-year-old Jordan Holgerson off a bridge. Holgerson was contemplating the 60-foot plunge and hesitated. Smith insists that she was just trying to help her make the decision — both Holgerson would end up in a belly flop that left her with multiple injuries. A conviction for the gross misdemeanor can result in as much as a year in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000.
As you can see in the video below, the push was unexpected and uninvited. This led the prosecutors to conclude that “it is clear that Taylor Smith engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death and resulted in serious physical injury to Jordan Holgerson.”
Smith was identified by Holgerson and insisted that she is a friend who simply wanted to help her overcome her fears.
That raises an interesting defense. There is no evidence of a malicious intent or desire to injure Smith. However, that may not matter.
The crime is oddly defined in Washington state with specific reference to a drive by shooting charge:
(1) A person is guilty of reckless endangerment when he or she recklessly engages in conduct not amounting to drive-by shooting but that creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person.
It certainly does seem to fit pushing someone off a bridge. However, Holgerson was preparing to do precisely that and Smith may not have believed that she would be physically hurt. Nevertheless, she was harmed with five broken ribs and lung injury. Smith said that she has apologized repeatedly and tried to visit Holgerson but was turned away.
This is a tough case given the lack of malicious intent. Do you feel Smith should be convicted?
