Photo by John Schreiber.
A man in his 30s threatened to jump off an overpass onto the Long Beach (710) Freeway Sunday in Long Beach, shutting down freeway lanes and tying up traffic for over an hour, before he peaceably surrendered to law enforcement.
The drama began about 5:20 p.m. on 710 Freeway at Pacific Coast Highway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Long Beach police with assistance from the CHP stopped northbound traffic at PCH and southbound vehicles at Willow Street, while authorities tried to talk the man down, according to police.
The CHP declared a SigAlert at 6:02 p.m. Long Beach Fire Department deployed an airbag under the spot where the man was threatening to jump, according to the CHP.
“We had Los Angeles County Mental Health, L.A. County Fire, Long Beach police and fire as well as the CHP at the scene, said Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Brian Fisk. It was the mental health representative who finally talked the man into surrendering.”
The would-be jumper was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for an evaluation, Fisk said.
The incident ended about 6:30 p.m. and the freeway lanes were reopened, according to Fisk and the CHP.
–Staff
>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!