Teen pleads guilty to pushing friend off bridge

VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) — The 19-year-old girl who pushed her friend off a bridge at Moulton Falls in August 2018 changed her plea to guilty on Monday morning.

Tay’lor Smith was charged with one count of reckless endangerment after the incident. She originally pleaded not guilty in September. However, Smith was offered a plea deal in February — prompting her to change her plea Monday to guilty of reckless endangerment.

The charge stems from the Aug. 7 incident when Jordan Holgerson was pushed off a bridge, just northeast of Vancouver and fell 60 feet. She suffered injuries ranging from broken ribs to punctured lungs.

The incident was caught on camera — becoming national news. The video posted on YouTube and later removed shows Holgerson standing on the bridge with friends. Then, a woman — later determined to be Smith — forcefully pushes her off.

On Feb. 11, 2019, Smith was offered a plea deal,however, the details weren’t shared in court. At the time, Holgerson’s mother said they knew what the offer entailed and would be OK with it, according to the Associated Press.

Sentencing for Smith was delayed until March 27, which upset Holgerson.

“I just want it to be done, I don’t want to wait until next Wednesday,” she said. “I just want it to be done.”

Holgerson has healed from broken ribs but she is still recovering and is going to therapy. 

“I just have these anxiety attacks now, but there’s nothing I can really do about it. But I’m playing softball,” Holgerson said. “Kind of on track now, better than it was.”

Smith is not expected to receive any jail time.