T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK A runaway juvenile allegedly tried to jump from the upper street to the storage shed and dumpster of the McDonald’s parking lot in Martins Ferry while fleeing police Tuesday evening. She was transported by medical helicopter to be treated for an apparent head injury.

MARTINS FERRY — A foot chase Tuesday evening left a juvenile injured after she allegedly attempted a dangerous leap into the McDonald’s parking lot from the street above, according to city police.

Bystanders and staff observed fire trucks and emergency vehicles called to the scene and someone being loaded into the back of an ambulance. Police inspected the fenced area above the parking lot with flashlights.

“We were assisting the Moundsville Police Department at locating a runaway,” Police Chief John McFarland said. “Martins Ferry officers were able to locate the juvenile female in the area of McDonald’s up behind the Elks (Lodge on North Fourth Street) here in Martins Ferry. During the interaction, officiers said, the female fled on foot. She climbed over the fence near the McDonald’s drive-through, attempting to jump off the wall.”

It is about 20 feet from the upper level to the lot.

“Officers had a hold of her, and she ended up falling onto the storage shed down there by the dumpster. She ended up falling on top of the roof of the storage shed. From what I understand, she then went and jumped into the dumpster and then while trying to get out of the dumpster she fell again, and that’s when she struck her head on the pavement. She was unconscious for a few minutes. She later regained consciousness,” McFarland said.

Andrew Winget, a staff member at McDonald’s, witnessed the apparent leap and fall.

“We heard yelling and screaming. We walked around here,” he said.

He showed a somewhat blurred photograph of officers attempting to hold a person going over the fence.

McFarland added that emergency services were dispatched and, for precautionary reasons, the girl was flown by medical helicopter for treatment. McFarland did not know which hospital she was transported to, but he said he did not believe the injury was serious.

McFarland said his office is considering filing charges. He said there was no indication of drug use. He said he was not aware of any charges from Moundsville or any reason to be on the lookout for the juvenile, other than as a runaway.