An urgent water rescue unfolded Wednesday afternoon on Lake Natoma after reports that an 18-year-old woman jumped from a moving vehicle on the Rainbow Bridge into the water below.
The woman, who fire officials and dispatchers noted was autistic, reportedly exited the moving vehicle before entering the water, triggering emergency calls and an immediate response from first responders. Units from the Folsom Fire Department and California State Parks were dispatched to the scene as the situation quickly escalated into a coordinated water rescue.
A command post was established at Black Miners Bar, commonly referred to as Rock Beach, where crews coordinated rescue efforts and staged incoming resources. Rescue boats, including Boat 35 and Boat 65, were among those dispatched to the water to assist in locating and reaching the woman as quickly as possible.
Early reports from the scene indicated that two paddleboarders made contact with the woman in the water downstream from the Rainbow Bridge, providing a critical early point of contact as responders converged on the area from multiple access points along the shoreline.
A nearby witness, identified as Jeffrey Smith, a former first responder from Michigan, was along the shoreline near Powerhouse Park when the incident unfolded and described the tense moments that followed. Smith said he and others first noticed a commotion near the bridge before hearing cries for help echo across the water.
“A few of us were on the shore near the powerhouse park when the jump occurred,” Smith said. “The commotion near the bridge was heard, then shortly after cries for help.”
He said a park ranger immediately called 911 while a kayaker positioned downstream became a key part of the initial response. As the ranger relayed information to dispatch, Smith and another bystander worked to get the kayaker’s attention and direct them toward the woman in the water.
“Myself and a gentleman with his daughter were able to get the attention of the kayaker to paddle over to the victim,” Smith said, noting they also helped provide across-shore vantage point direction to responders approaching from the opposite side of the river.
Smith added that the woman appeared to be staying afloat during those critical early moments as help closed in from multiple directions. “Thankfully she seemed to be treading water ok and people were nearby,” he said.
He credited the rapid and coordinated response by emergency personnel, adding, “The responding agencies did an excellent job in response time and deployment of personnel/equipment.”
The woman was brought to boat launch at Black Miners Bar where medic units were staged. She was then transported to Sutter Hospital of Roseville for unknown injuries.
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