On January 11, 2024, a tragic incident occurred at the Maynard Parking Structure in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where a 34-year-old woman, an Ann Arbor resident, fell from the top of the parking structure and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Ann Arbor police received a distress call around 8:30 p.m., alerting them to an unconscious woman lying on the sidewalk along Thompson Street near the parking structure.
The initial findings of the investigation indicate that the woman’s death was a result of the fall, with no evidence of foul play being found. However, the police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of parking structures in downtown Ann Arbor, with the City Council urging the Downtown Development Authority to implement improved safety barriers in parking garages.
This unfortunate event follows a pattern of similar incidents in Ann Arbor. In the period from November 2015 to December 2016, two people were seriously injured, and three died after jumping or falling from parking structures in the city. The lack of sufficiently high railings in these structures, some of which are up to eight stories tall, has been noted as a safety concern.
Emergency services, including the Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor Fire Department, and the University of Michigan Police Department, responded to the scene alongside Ann Arbor police. They all remain involved in the ongoing investigation.
In light of this incident, individuals struggling with thoughts of suicide are encouraged to seek help from various organizations and hotlines, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline available at 988, the Ozone House youth hotline at 734-662-2222, the University of Michigan Psychiatric Emergency Services at 734-936-5900, and the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health crisis team at 734-544-3050.
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