A woman threw her two struggling young children from a freeway overpass during Wednesday's morning rush before leaping off herself, police said, but all three survived the 22-foot fall into traffic.
Khandi Busby, 27, and her sons, ages 8 and 6, were hospitalized in stable condition, said police Sr. Cpl. Kevin Janse. They are well enough to speak with investigators, police said.
All three landed on concrete in the far left lane of westbound Interstate 30 at about 6:30 a.m.
"It was really miraculous that we didn't have some fatalities with this incident," said police Sgt. Gil Cerda. "At this particular time, there is very heavy traffic and it is fast moving."
Police believe Busby and the 8-year-old were struck by cars. There were no car accidents on the interstate below, Cerda said.
Busby could face two charges of attempted capital murder, Cerda said.
Janse said Busby and her sons were in a car with her father, heading to a friend's house. When they stopped for gas, she took the boys to the overpass while her father was paying for the fuel, Janse said.
"She was not fleeing for her safety," Cerda said. "She just threw them over and decided to throw herself over."
Her father had to make a U-turn to follow her in the car and by the time he reached the scene Busby "had picked up the kids and thrown herself over," Cerda said.
"The why remains a mystery to us," police Lt. C.L. Williams said. "If you try to apply logic to these incidents, they totally defy any logical explanation."
Child Protective Services had intervened with Busby at least twice but for incidents that "were relatively minor in nature," Williams said.
Busby has a criminal record, including convictions for assault and criminal trespass of a habitation.
