Woman killed after 12-year-old boy attempting suicide jumps onto her car

Boy taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries

Marisa Harris, 22, was studying clinical counselling at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia (Facebook)

A woman has died after a 12-year-old boy jumped from a flyover and landed on her car.

Marisa Harris, 22, was driving Eastbound on Interstate 66 in Fairfax County when the boy jumped from the Cedar Lane flyover, Virginia State Police said.

Ms Harris was pronounced dead at the scene while the boy survived, NBC Washington reported.

He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital and is being treated for life-threatening injuries, police said.

Ms Harris' boyfriend was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car and was able to steer if off the road and bring it to a stop.

He was not injured.

Ms Harris' mother told NBC Washington she was studying clinical counselling at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.

She said if given the chance, Ms Harris could have helped the boy before he jumped.

Police are investigating the incident as an attempted suicide.