I have been extremely concerned about Melissa, ever since I read posts from her friends on FB. Then when I found out her vehicle was found near this bridge, I was just so sad for Melissa.
While it does have guard rails, IMO it looks very possible to climb over:
View attachment 237122
Google Street View of Taos Gorge Bridge
It is extremely easy to go over.
Taos teen’s death renews call for barriers at gorge bridge
Suicides/Deaths:
Sept, 1990: Patrick Chase, 43, of Taos. Chase, a Taos loner who made smudge sticks for a living, disappeared leaving his vehicle at the rim of the Rio Grande gorge. No body ever found.
15 Nov 1990: Mike Finley, 45. Finley's body was found in the sage west of the gorge bridge. The report states that Finley committed suicide but it doesn't say how. He worked as a telephone technician in Taos.
16 Dec, 1991: Dennis Magnusen, 54, of Astoria OR Magnusen jumped to his death from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
27 Aug, 1992: Katherine Seed Kimbril, 50, of Taos (for 8 years)
Kimbril's body found in Rio Grande Gorge, an apparent suicide. She left a four-page letter in her '67 Ford Fairlane addressed to her mother concerning the disposition of her possessions along with various other documents connected with witchcraft and UFOs including a statement saying that she was a "UFO breeder."
31 Aug, 1992: Matt Aurand, 20, of Dixon. Aurand disappeared and his truck was discovered at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. On 9 September kayakers find a body which authorities speculate may be Aurand's. No further information reported.
28 March, 1996: Elmer D. Parham, 75, of Fairview
Parham jumped from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge to his death at around 12:30 pm.
15 Aug, 1996:: Alicia Lauritzen, 51. Lauritzen, a psychotherapist with two children, jumped to her death from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.
22 Nov, 1996: Charlie Sutherland, 21 and Kamala Sutherland, 21. The newlyweds jumped to their deaths from the Gorge Bridge; the bride suffered from bi-polar disorder.
14 Jan, 2000: Dwight John Juers, 30, of St. Paul, MN Juers,, described as a loner and a wanderer, apparently jumped to his death from the Gorge Bridge.
19 June, 2000: Tomas Montoya, 40, of Rio Rancho
Montoya, a lawyer from Rio Rancho, jumped to his death from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge at 10:40 am.
3 Oct, 2001: Charles Smith, 37, of Santa Fe. Smith disappeared, abandoning a rental car at the Gorge Bridge containing his wallet and keys, in early October. Originally from Mississippi, Smith had lived and worked most recently in Santa Fe, though he had been in Taos for a while staying at motels. His father said he suffered from depression. On 8 November, his body was discovered in gorge by rafters.
November 13, 2002
Erik Sanchez was murdered when he was thrown off the Taos Gorge bridge during the course of a car theft. The crime began when two men, Luis Acosta, the driver, and David Sandoval, the passenger, tricked Sanchez into pulling over and stopping his car. Sandoval then forced Sanchez at gunpoint to relinquish control of his car, and Sandoval drove off with Sanchez in the passenger seat. Acosta followed in the other car. Eventually, Acosta left his car at his mother's house, and the two hijackers continued in Sanchez's car to the bridge, where they threw Sanchez to his death and took his car.
7 March, 2003: Herson Vigil, 31
Vigil shot himself in the head at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and his body then fell into the gorge on a Friday afternoon.
27 April, 2003: Mariana Augustini, 44
Augustini of Santa Fe and Vermont jumped to her death from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge leaving a suicide note in her car.
4 June, 2003: Susan Jayne Weiss
Weiss, of Santa Fe, (no age given), committed suicide by jumping off the bridge. Her body found in the gorge on 20 July.
I can't cross the bridge after Erik. (ETA: I just noticed that the date is wrong. This actually happened in 1998)
It haunts me. 
Note: At trial, it was disclosed that evidence was found of Erik clinging to the railings, trying to save his life. They hit and kicked his hands until he lost his grip and fell to his death. He put up quite a fight. I can't imagine the terror of falling into that biting cold darkness. It's the stuff nightmares are made of.
