Would-Be Jumper Forces Near-Full Closure of 110 Freeway Downtown

LOS ANGELES, CA — A person spotted on a ledge above the Harbor (110) Freeway in downtown Los Angeles forced the closure of almost the entire southbound freeway Wednesday, snarling traffic as the afternoon rush hour began.

The potential jumper was reported shortly after 2 p.m., according to the city fire department. The California Highway Patrol closed all but one lane of the southbound freeway near Seventh Street as police worked to talk the person down.

The Los Angeles Fire Department inflated a large airbag on the freeway beneath the person.

Southbound traffic on the freeway through the downtown area was at a virtual standstill, with the standoff continuing into the late afternoon. Motorists were urged to avoid the freeway entirely and seek out other southbound routes.

City News Service