Overpass plunge badly injured 12-year-old boy and killed 22-year-old driver

Marisa Harris, 22, was killed when a 12-year-old boy jumped from an overpass over in Virginia on Sunday and hit the vehicle Harris was driving, police said. Photo / courtesy of Leigh Miller

An incident that left a driver dead when her vehicle was struck by a person who had plunged from an Interstate 66 overpass yesterday is being investigated, Virginia State Police said today.

Police said a 12-year-old boy jumped an overpass and landed on a vehicle being driven by 22-year-old Marisa Harris, of Olney, Maryland, who died at the scene. The boy was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The incident occurred as a 2005 Ford Escape was travelling eastbound on I-66.

A 23-year-old passenger in the SUV grabbed the steering wheel and maneuvered the vehicle off the interstate, according to authorities, stopping against a concrete barrier on the road's left shoulder.

Harris was killed by the impact of the fall, according to Corinne Geller, a spokeswoman for Virginia State Police. The teenager was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he is being treated for life-threatening injuries, police said. The passenger was not injured.

Harris, who lived in Arlington, Virginia, was pursuing her master's degree in clinical counselling at Marymount University, her parents said. She had a passion for working with children with severe behavioural problems, they said.

"She was caring - I mean she had an absolute love for children," Harris' mother, Leigh Miller said.

Harris was a high-achieving student at Towson University, where she completed her undergraduate degree, Miller said.

Given her work with children, the circumstances of her death were not lost on the family.

"That's the irony that we're at looking at right now," her father, Patrick Harris said.

Harris' father described her as outgoing and well-travelled. She had an affinity for the outdoors and loved hiking, he said.

"She was fearless; she was absolutely fearless," he said. "She was loved by her friends, she was dearly loved by her family, she was admired by her peers, she was just a shining star."

And her professional interest ran in the family: Harris' grandfather is also a psychologist, and her father said she "comes from a long line of psychologists".

"She was - she was awesome," her mother said. "I miss her so much."

WHERE TO GET HELP:

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:

• LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633
• NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7)
• KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
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