A Florida woman has died after falling from a drawbridge that started to open as she was walking across it.
CNN says the victim was walking her bicycle along the Royal Park Bridge, and was 10 feet away from the rising point as it began to open.
Police are investigating whether the bridge tenders followed safety procedures, or if the woman crossed without checking the signals.
Bicycle safety advocate Juan Orellana told CNN there are warning signs, barriers and bells in place that alert pedestrians and cyclists when the bridge is about to go up.
Orellana reminded cyclists to “always be aware of your surroundings”.
West Palm Beach spokesperson Mike Jachles told CNN there are specific protocols for bridge tenders to follow, “with multiple steps and multiple layers of checking to make sure that there are no cars or people on the bridge when it goes up”.
Police have not yet been able to identify the woman.
