Woman airlifted during I-40 bridge protest tells story
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A woman says she was medically evacuated off the I-40 bridge after suffering from a severe stress anxiety attack when it was shut down earlier this month.
The bridge was shut down in some form for at least 2 hours by pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for peace in the Middle East. Traffic came to a halt, stalling business as usual for thousands.
An ambulance had to drive up the opposite side of the traffic to reach the woman with a medical emergency.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators shut down lanes on I-40 bridge
She says she is a truck driver with her husband and they were on their way from Missouri to Mississippi when they became caught in the protest.
“They were holding us all hostage on this bridge,” she said. “I was hurting so bad and I was having chest pain and I don’t know when or who called for an ambulance but I know it took them forever to get there and it shouldn’t have.”
She said she blacked out and was eventually airlifted to the hospital.
“I don’t remember getting out of the truck, getting put into an ambulance. I don’t remember a helicopter ride,” she said.
She also says she has a phobia of bridges. “My brother was killed on a bridge so that’s the main reason I don’t like bridges,” she said.
She says being on the I-40 bridge for so long with unknown circumstances sent her into a tailspin.
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“It scared me. It scared me pretty bad,” she said “We figured once the cops showed up they would clear people off but they didn’t.”
Since the protest this month, she hasn’t been able to continue with her job.
“So rattled and so scared,” she said. “Our main concern is trying to get me back to where I will ride in a vehicle and be able to drive a vehicle.”
She wanted to share her experience, so others know how it affected people.
“I’m sure it caused problems for other people,” she said. “If you want to protest there’s ways to do it but to shut down an interstate and holding people hostage like that is wrong.”
Last check with Memphis Police no one was charged in relation to the protest.
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