Man Dies In Apparent Jump Onto SR-163 Near Balboa Park

SAN DIEGO — A man was found dead on state Route 163 near Balboa Park Tuesday morning after he apparently jumped from the Laurel Street bridge, halting traffic in both directions as authorities investigated the death.

Dispatchers received multiple calls shortly before 5:25 a.m. from people who reported that a man was down in the left lane of northbound SR-163 near the Laurel Street bridge, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The man, whose age was not immediately available, was struck by a vehicle a few minutes later, CHP Officer Jake Sanchez said.

A camera in the area captured video of the man plunging from the bridge prior to the crash, San Diego police public-affairs Officer Billy Hernandez.

The coroner was called to the scene around 5:40 a.m. and authorities shut down both northbound lanes of SR-163 along with the northbound and southbound Interstate 5 transition ramps to northbound SR-163, the Park Boulevard onramp to northbound SR-163 and the 11th Street onramp to northbound SR-163.

The right lane on northbound SR-163 was reopened by 6:35 a.m. and authorities reopened both I-5 transition ramps to northbound SR-163 by 6:55 a.m.

The Park Boulevard and 11th Street onramps were reopened by 7:10 a.m, but as of 10:25 a.m. the left lane of northbound SR-163 near Laurel Street remained closed.

– City News Service