Good Samaritan dies after falling off bridge

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A woman died after falling off a bridge while trying to help someone involved in a collision, authorities said.

Jessica Nicole Smith, 29, was a passenger in a vehicle early Saturday when she saw a collision at Interstate 385 and U.S. 276, Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans said.

Smith went to the cab of a truck looking for victims, according to witnesses interviewed by the coroner's office. She got into the bed of the truck and didn't find anyone, Evans said. She then leaned over the edge of the bridge calling out for anyone.

"It is believed she heard a voice, placed one leg over the bridge, and then another, thinking the ground was close," Evans said in a statement. "However, she fell 23 feet to the base of the bridge and died."

The fall happened about 1:45 a.m. ET Saturday, the coroner's office said. Smith died about 10 minutes later.

Determination of an official cause and manner of death have not been released pending an autopsy.

Jessica Nicole Smith and her 9-year-old son, Isaiah.(Photo: Twitter)