WA Teen Who Was Pushed Off Bridge: ‘She Could Have Been Charged With a Little Bit More’

Pusher 'could have killed someone'

Jordan Holgerson, a Washington teen who was caught on video being pushed off a tall bridge and survived, told a local news outlet that the 18-year-old woman who shoved her could have faced steeper charges in connection with the incident.

Taylor Smith is accused of pushing Holgerson, 16, from the 60-foot-tall bridge and into the water. She was charged with reckless endangerment, the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office stated.

“I think she could have been charged with a little bit more because, if you think about it, she could have killed someone,” Holgerson said on Aug. 17, reported KGW-TV.

Holgerson said that Smith has treated the situation like a “joke,” the report said. “I think Taylor’s appropriate punishment should be somewhere along the lines of sitting longer in jail,“ Holgerson added in the Aug. 17 report. ”Because I think she needs more time to think about the things she’s done and the way she’s treating people because she’s not being very kind.”

Court documents stated that by pushing Holgerson, Smith created “a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury,” and she could serve as many as 364 days in jail and pay a fine of $5,000. Her arraignment is set for Friday, Sept. 7, said Clark County deputy prosecutor Laurel Smith in the KGW-TV report.

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• 18-Year-Old Charged for Pushing Friend off 60-Foot Bridge

“Sometimes we’re looking at victim’s wishes, what they want to see happen. We look at the strength of the evidence,” said Laurel Smith. “We look at the defendant’s maturity level, their age.”

“Our goal is not to teach society a lesson by charging a particular defendant with something that would not be fair, that would not be justice,” added Laurel Smith. “But our goal would be that this kind of behavior doesn’t happen again.”

In an interview with “Good Morning America,” Taylor Smith said that Holgerson asked her to push her off the bridge.

“I never intended to hurt her, ever, ” said Smith, “nor would I never intend to hurt anyone. I’m really sorry it turned out that way, but, I just pray that she heals and gets better.”

“Taylor was telling lies to national TV,“ Holgerson said. ”I confronted her about it and she definitely was lying to me.”

Jordan Holgerson suffered five broken ribs, a punctured lung, and other internal injuries. KGW screenshot

‘In a lot of pain’

Holgerson elaborated on her recovery in a previous report.

“I’m in a lot of pain,” she told NBC. “In the mornings it’s the worst, like it hurts to breathe. My side hurts. My shoulder hurts. I can’t even get up.”

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The incident took place Aug. 7 when the girls were with friends at Moulton Falls Regional Park. There are signs saying jumping and diving from the Lewis and Clark Bridge is prohibited.

The arch bridge is more than three stories high, the Clark County Public Works website says.  “Please, no diving off of the bridge,” the agency says on its website. “Swimming is allowed at Moulton Falls Regional Park. However, there are no lifeguards on duty. The river can have swift currents and water depths can vary. Park users swim at their own risk. Parents are urged to be vigilant watching children near the water,” it adds.