Woman pulled back from overpass

Police arrested a woman Sunday night who eyewitnesses say might have been trying to jump onto the 55 Freeway.

Costa Mesa police responded to the Fairview Road overpass about 7:15 p.m., said Lt. Bryan Glass. The northbound route over the freeway is a single lane that branches from Newport Boulevard near Virginia Place.

Glass described the woman as “somewhat bothered” and said she was taken into custody and placed on a mental health hold. He declined to give her name, age or city of residence.

He said multiple callers had reported concern for her safety.

Eyewitness Billy Folsom, a recently retired city mechanic, said that when he happened upon the scene, “There were a couple of guys looking a little distressed, looking on this girl standing on the overpass.”

Police were talking to her, telling the passersby to go away, he said.

Eventually they got her to the ground and handcuffed her, Folsom said

“They managed to get the situation under control rather rapidly,” Folsom said. “I don’t think from beginning to end it took more than 10 minutes.”

The Fairview Road overpass was temporarily closed. Authorities considered closing the freeway, Glass said.

Folsom described the woman as white and in her mid-30s to 40s.

—Bradley Zint and Emily Foxhall