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Mother wants suicide fences placed on Lorain Road bridge where others have ended their lives

Posted at 7:56 PM, Mar 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-19 23:16:46-04

Michelle Biggins' daughter Mindy was 24 years old when she committed suicide by jumping off the Lorain Road bridge in 2004.

A total of six people jumped from the same bridge that year.

While no one keeps exact statistics, it's well known that people jump from the bridge near Fairview Hospital every year.

Most recently, a woman reportedly jumped from the bridge and died last Friday. Cleveland Metroparks rangers found her body underneath the bridge at 12:54 p.m. 

The bridge is 130 feet above the Rocky River Reservation.

Michelle's Mission

“These kids have to know there's help out there for them,” Biggins told News 5.

In recent years, Mindy's mom has collected thousands of signatures on a petition, asking to get curved fencing, or suicide barriers, put up on the bridge to prevent people from jumping.

She knows it won't prevent all suicides, but she feels fencing would make a difference.

“That bridge attracts people and I don't know why, but I'm just trying to save a life,” Biggins said.

Mindy was a kindergarten teacher. Her mom believes she suffered from depression.

Will they do something about it?

Biggins said ODOT is making plans to put up fencing but Fairview officials want to make sure it's aesthetically pleasing.

Biggins is optimistic fencing will be put up on the bridge this spring.

No one from ODOT or the City of Fairview Park could be reached over the weekend.