SAN BRUNO – A 34-year-old San Francisco woman wanted on several warrants died after falling from a freeway overpass during a pursuit Monday night, police said.
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The episode started in South San Francisco around 8:30 p.m., when officers found a car associated with the woman, according to the South San Francisco Police Department.
Police said she had been involved in a pursuit with a different agency earlier that day.
When officers tried to stop the woman, she brandished a pair of scissors at them and got into the driver’s seat of the car, according to police. An officer fired a Taser at the woman, but it had no effect. She then drove away with officers in pursuit.
Police said the chase continued into San Bruno, where the woman rammed a patrol vehicle several times while trying to evade officers.
Officers used a spike strip to disable the car, which came to a stop on the Sneath Lane overpass at Interstate 280, according to police.
The woman refused to get out of the car, police said, adding that crisis negotiators were called to the scene, but they were unable to establish communication with her.
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Officers fired pepper balls into the car, which led to the woman exiting and running toward the overpass guardrail, according to police. In an attempt to stop her, an officer fired a less-lethal projectile, but it had no effect. A police dog was also sent after the woman; however it was called off as she continued toward the guardrail.
Moments later, the woman “intentionally climbed over the guardrail” and fell onto the freeway below, police said.
Officers stopped traffic on the freeway and provided medical aid to the woman until firefighters arrived. The woman was taken to an area trauma center, where she later died from her injuries.
The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office identified the woman as Ana Da Costa Pereira.
No officers were injured.
The events leading up to the pursuit and the woman’s actions during the encounter remain under investigation, according to police.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-877-8900.
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