A woman has died after falling from a bridge Tuesday evening, Miami Police confirmed.
Police said the woman was crossing the Northwest 12th Avenue Bridge at the Miami River, when the bridge went up. She was halfway across and fell the length of the bridge.
The woman broke both of her legs and was transported to the hospital. However, the woman later died as a result of her injuries.
She has been identified as 61-year-old Olga Aponte.
Police said this appears to be an accident, but Aponte's death is being investigated by Miami Police homicide detectives.
"All the warning devices were operational. Arms down, lights flashing, vehicles stopped. So the question is, why was she on the bridge at the time? Was she not aware of what was going on? What was her mental condition?" said Capt. Ignatius Carroll with Miami Fire Rescue.
Investigators said Aponte fell approximately 30-40 feet.
Officers were diverting traffic away from the bridge at Northwest 10th Street, but the area has since reopened to drivers.
Officials with the Florida Department of Transportation said Wednesday the bridge tender assigned to the bridge Tuesday evening was an employee of their asset maintenance contractor, Florida Drawbridge, Inc., and not of FDOT.
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The employee was relieved of duties pending further investigation, FDOT confirmed.
Officials with FDOT said the bridge tender is being interviewed, and the contract company is in the process of reviewing videos as part of the ongoing investigation.
