Kind Woman Talks Teen Out of Suicide on Metra Bridge in Palos Park

PALOS PARK, IL — A Palos Park woman talked a distraught young man away from a Metra rail line bridge, where he was poised Friday night to jump into the path of an oncoming train.

The 19-year-old man, upset over the death of a sibling, left his truck in the 8200 block of West 123rd Street and stood on the bridge. A woman who had just left the train noticed the man, approached him, and asked "Are you OK?" according to Palos Park police.

She spoke with him a while and persuaded him to go with her to a hospital.

Police were called to the scene at about 9 p.m. Police and Palos Fire Protection District paramedics took the man to Palos Community Hospital.

“After witnessing the selfless act of kindness and compassion for this young man by this woman, it is a reminder that caring for people involves the entire community," said Palos Park Police watch commander Chris Hughes, who was on scene.

photo of West 123rd Street Bridge via Google Maps