A 22 year old woman has been killed after the car she was driving was hit by a 12 year old boy attempting to take his own life by jumping off a bridge.
Marisa Harris from Maryland, died at the scene after the boy landed on her Ford Escape when he jumped off Cedar Lane overpass in Virginia.
A 23-year old male passenger travelling with her was uninjured after he managed to grab the steering wheel and direct the car off the interstate.
The boy, who has not been named, extraordinarily survived the fall and was taken to hospital where he is being treated for life threatening injuries.
Police say the incident is being investigated as an attempted suicide.
Marisa Harris’s family has spoken out about their daughter who was studying for a master’s degree in clinical counselling at Marymount University and had a gift for working with children with severe behavioural problems.
They told The Washington Post ‘That’s the irony that we’re looking at right now.
‘She was fearless, she was absolutely fearless. She was loved by her friends, she was dearly loved by her family, she was admired by her peers, she was just a shining star.”
