A woman accidentally fell to her death on Friday night after trying to jump across a median on Highway 401.

Toronto police say the woman stepped out of a stopped tow truck in the express lanes to try to help a disabled car in the collector lanes on Highway 401 between Yonge Street and Avenue Road at about 10 p.m.

The woman fell in the gap between the lanes and dropped about 45 metres. Toronto paramedics said she was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said she was a passenger in the tow truck and worked with the driver.

Const. Craig Brister, spokesperson for the Toronto police, said the death is considered accidental.

"Absolutely. She tried to hop over the median. I don't think she realized there was nothing there," he said.

The woman fell on the Don Valley Golf Course, below the highway.

Jamie Rodgers, deputy commander for the Toronto Paramedic Service, said the woman was believed to be about 30.