RESCUE EFFORT SUCCESSFUL

2/10/2006

Toledo police and firefighters saved a distraught East Toledo woman from drowning after she jumped into the Maumee River near the Anthony Wayne Bridge yesterday afternoon, authorities said. Responding to a report of a suicidal woman with a knife in International Park, Officers Dave Vasquez and Lisa Long pursued Jessica Yancey, 19, of 528 Navarre Ave. after she fled from them and followed her to the river s edge where she had jumped. The officers found a long stick that they extended to the shivering woman until firefighters arrived and tossed her ropes that they then used to pull her back to shore. Ms. Yancey was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center for treatment. Toledo police Sgt. Richard Murphy said rescuers told him that Ms. Yancey was just seconds away from drowning in the river, which according to the U.S. Coast Guard, had a temperature of about 35 degrees.