WHIDBEY ISLAND – A woman believed to be from Snohomish County apparently committed suicide early today, stunning witnesses by pitching herself off the bridge that spans the swirling waters of Deception Pass.
The woman, whose identity was not immediately released, is in her early 20s and apparently lives in the Arlington or Everett areas, said Jan Smith, spokeswoman for the Island County Sheriff’s Office. A search of the area by boat and aircraft turned up no sign of the woman.
Witnesses told deputies the woman was spotted near the 182-foot-high bridge at about 6:45 a.m.
“She was seen to approach the bridge and then bolt over the rail,” Smith said.
The woman fell to the water below. There was a strong outgoing current at the time, Smith said.
Deception Pass is the gap between north Whidbey Island in Island County and Fidalgo Island in Skagit County. The area is known for powerful currents as tide changes squeeze Puget Sound waters between steep rock walls.
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