Woman, 28, dies after plunge

8/23/2008

A North Toledo woman died yesterday, in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, a day after she jumped from the hospital's fifth floor and landed on the first- floor roof of the emergency room, authorities said.

Terri Hartford, 28, of 625 East Oakland St. died at 5 p.m.

Ms. Hartford tried to flee the hospital, 2213 Cherry St., about 8 a.m. Thursday, soon after she was admitted for suicidal thoughts, police said.

After asking to use the restroom, she ran into a window, shattering it and falling onto the emergency room roof. She was taken into surgery immediately after the incident.

Two registered nurses who witnessed the incident told police Ms. Hartford seemed to be jogging toward the restroom.

Sarah Bednarski, a spokesman for Mercy Health Partners, said the incident happened "very quickly" and hospital personnel "responded very, very quickly."

The fifth floor is a neurological constant-care unit, but it is also used for overflow patients.