Firefighter Suicide on I-5 Freeway Mourned by Orange County

WESTMINSTER, CA — The Orange County Fire Authority mourned the loss of Fire Capt. Eric Weuve on Wednesday, with flags at half mast. The 41-year-old Fire Station 64 Westminster captain took his life Tuesday morning when he jumped from the Crown Valley Parkway overpass at the I-5 Freeway in Mission Viejo.

"Captain Weuve was based at Fire Station 64 in Westminster and had worked for OCFA since 2005," Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz said.

A resident of Orange, Captain Weuve died shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday in Mission Viejo, according to Kurtz.

Weuve was married and was the father of a 14-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, according to Kurtz. He had been off duty for several months following shoulder surgery and had only recently returned to regular duty.

"The word 'tragedy' doesn't really do it justice," Kurtz said. "He was a great asset to the OCFA and he will be thoroughly missed by all of the OCFA community."

It was not immediately clear what prompted Weuve to jump from the overpass.

"That's the question everybody is asking — why? That's unfortunately the question nobody has an answer to except Capt. Weuve," Kurtz said.

Services for Weuve were still being planned, Kurtz said.

"Incidents like this serve as a reminder the holidays are a very tough time for a lot of people, so just hope everybody spends a great time with their family and remind yourself and your family just how important and precious life is," Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer said Tuesday night in the Board of Supervisors meeting that was dedicated to Weuve's memory.

OCFA’s chaplains were dispatched to the scene, and OCFA’s Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team was also on location for support.

Peer support personnel were also made available for Orange County Sheriff's Department, according to OCSD Lt. Mark Stichter.

Photos courtesy OCFA