Teen Who Pushed Friend Off Bridge Finally Speaks: “I Didn’t Think She’d Fall Like That…” — Apology Comes Too Late for Some
It was meant to be a thrill — a 60-foot drop into Washington’s Lewis River. But when 16-year-old Jordan Holgerson was shoved off a bridge by a so-called friend, what followed was not adrenaline… but a horrific fall, punctured lungs, and broken ribs.
And now, the girl behind the push is speaking out.
In an emotional interview that aired just days after public outrage reached a boiling point, the teen — identified as Taylor Smith — publicly apologized for what she called a “stupid mistake.”
“I didn’t think she’d fall like that,” Taylor admitted, her voice shaking. “I thought she’d be fine.”
But Jordan wasn’t fine. Caught on camera in a viral video that made national headlines, the footage shows her standing on the edge, hesitating — then being shoved from behind, arms flailing as she plummets into the water below.
Jordan’s injuries were severe: five broken ribs, a bruised esophagus, and air trapped in her chest cavity. Doctors said she was lucky to survive.
“I could’ve died,” Jordan later said from her hospital bed. “I didn’t even get a chance to prepare.”
Public backlash against Taylor was swift. Some called for criminal charges. Others questioned how someone could call this a prank. In the video, Jordan is heard repeatedly saying she didn’t want to jump. And yet, she was pushed anyway.
Now, weeks later, Taylor’s apology — though heartfelt — has done little to erase what’s become a cautionary tale about peer pressure, viral culture, and the thin line between fun and recklessness.
Jordan’s family says they’re grateful she survived. But her mother was blunt: “That push changed everything.”
As for Taylor? She says she hopes someday Jordan can forgive her — but understands if she never does.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, “for hurting my friend.”
But for many watching, the question remains: When does a mistake become a crime? And how many seconds of bad judgment can alter a life forever?
