The teenage girl who was pushed off a 60ft bridge last summer in a horrifying viral video has spoken out on her conflicted feelings towards the friend who shoved her and her long road to recovery.
Jordan Holgerson, 16, was left with six broken ribs, a punctured lung and air bubbles in her chest after Taylor Smith, 18 at the time, pushed her from the Moulton Falls Bridge in Washington state last August.
In an interview with Today on Tuesday, the teen said she had mixed feelings about how she wanted her friend to be punished, admitting that her opinion changed by the day.
"Certain days I kind of want her to be put in jail but some days I think that might be a little too harsh," she said.
She added that she had been hoping for "justice" but is now eager for the lengthy case to come to a close, saying: "So in court, I was kind of hoping for justice and her being sentenced and everything just kind of being over because it's been a long process."
Speaking about her injuries, Holgerson said she sometimes still suffers pain in her ribs. "Because ribs take so long to heal, every once and a while I'll turn and they'll pinch and hurt," she explained.
Smith, now 19, pleaded not guilty to reckless endangerment in December. This week, prosecutors announced they had reached a plea deal with her attorneys.
It is unclear how much prison time she will serve under the deal. The maximum term she faces is one year, along with a fine of up to $5,000.
Back in August, Smith spoke out on the incident for the first time, stating she wanted to help her friend overcome her fear, not injure her.
"She wanted to jump and she was scared and she had asked me to give her a push, and I didn't think about the consequences," she said. "I thought she would be fine."
Smith continued to confirm she had "apologised several times," and claimed she tried to visit Jordan in the hospital, but "was asked to leave." She added they were "pretty close" friends for years, but after the incident, Jordan stopped communicating with her.
"I love that girl," said Taylor. "I never intended to hurt her ever, nor would I intend to hurt anyone. I'm really sorry it turned out that way. I just pray that she heals and gets better."
On GMA, she later added that the idea of facing charges was "scary" but stated she will accept whatever punishment the authorities decide upon.
"I accept whatever the prosecutors think is best for me, considering I caused not only bodily harm but emotional trauma as well," said Taylor. "But I just hope for the best."
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