19-year-old Taylor Smith received two days in jail for pushing her friend off a bridge in Washington state. Jordan Holgerson’s friends were all jumping off a bridge in Moulton Falls Regional Park and she wanted to participate. What she didn’t know was that she would end up with multiple broken bones.

Injuries and Consequences

Smith can be heard counting down before shoving Holgerson, but the 16-year-old was extremely hesitant and stated that she did not want a countdown. After the fall, Smith did not rush down to check up on her best friend of several years. She decided to leave the scene.

Holgerson suffered not only punctured lungs, but six broken ribs from the 52-foot fall into the East Fork Lewis River. In a statement to the judge, she said she experienced anxiety attacks and insomnia. Doctors warned that a fall like this one could have been fatal. Holgerson was lucky to be alive.

“When I was being pulled from the water, I thought, ‘I’m going to die,’ because I couldn’t breathe. And I was watching my body change color by the second.”

Jordan Holgerson in a statement to the judge

Court Hearing

Smith was expected to walk out of court with no jail time at all due to a plea agreement. She pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in exchange for 60 days of electric home confinement, 30 days of community work crew, and 30 days of community service. Holgerson’s mother, Genelle, asked the judge to sentence Smith to jail time. She wanted Smith to “stay in jail” for as long as her daughter was in the hospital bed. Holgerson stayed in the hospital for a total of three days.

Clark County District Court Judge Darvin Zimmerman went against the plea deal and said to Smith that she needs some jail time. On top of the sentence, she had to pay a $300 fine and have no contact with Holgerson for two years. 

In an exclusive interview with Good Morning America, Smith claims that Holgerson asked to get pushed off the bridge. Smith apologized to her friend on Snapchat and Holgerson’s response consisted of “It’s fine, I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.” Smith says there was no malicious intent behind the push and only wants the best for Holgerson. Holgerson has now fully recovered.