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Florida drawbridge operator arrested in death of woman, 79, who fell when it opened

A bridge tender who was operating a Florida drawbridge that sent a woman to her death at least five stories below was arrested Thursday.

According to the West Palm Beach Police Department, Artissua Lafaye Paulk is charged with one count of manslaughter.

Syndication: Palm Beach Post (Meghan McCarthy / USA Today Network)
Syndication: Palm Beach Post (Meghan McCarthy / USA Today Network)

When the Royal Park Bridge opened, it was operated by Paulk, who walked her bike across it.

The woman was about 10 feet away from the end of the bridge when she fell through a gap in the road.

The woman tried to hang on, Mike Jachles told the news station.

A bystander tried to help her, but she fell five or six stories to her death.

The woman's name is being kept out of the public eye because of Marsy's Law, which seeks to protect victims' privacy rights.

According to police, detectives obtained a search warrant for Paulk's cellphone. She wasn't on her phone at the time of the incident. She was questioned after her arrest.

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