Two Suicide Attempts Off Freeway Overpasses End In Survival

Photo by Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock

Two people attempted to commit suicide Monday by leaping from freeway overpasses, and both victims survived their jumps.

A 50-year-old woman jumped from the Sunset Boulevard overpass onto the northbound Hollywood (101) Freeway Monday morning and is expected to survive her injuries. She was rushed to County USC Medical Center and listed in critical condition. Her condition has since been upgraded to stable.

On Monday around 8:50pm, a 34-year-old man jumped from an overpass at Eastern Avenue onto the southbound lanes of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in East L.A. Before the man leapt from the overpass, deputies tried to talk him down. Their pleas were obviously unsuccessful, but police did manage to delay his jump until the CHP could stop traffic.

The man was treated at the scene by county paramedics and transported to the hospital for treatment. He is also expected to survive his injuries. Sheriff's Lt. Tim Carr of the East Los Angeles sheriff's station told CNS, "The man has a dislocated shoulder but no broken bones, and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation."

A motive for the woman's suicide has been established, but police are still investigating both incidents. The woman reportedly tried to end her life following an argument with her boyfriend. Information regarding the man's reason for jumping has not been released.

In addition to investigating motives, the LAPD will likely examine the overpasses above the 101 near Hollywood and Sunset boulevards, as they were built in the 1950s and never equipped with pedestrian-proof fences.

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By Lauren Lloyd in News on February 21, 2012 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

crusher153

loosers! they must really be failures at life in order to fail at their own death!

just kidding! in order for someone in my profession to cope with going to scenes of accidents and suicides, we joke about it. if we didn't try and distance ourselves and make light of it, it would tear us apart. God bless anyone who has to go through something horrific, i really feel for everyone involved.

in order for someone to even think about taking their own lives is a sad thing. if you are depressed and you are thinking about ending your life, talk to someone. you need to try to get help. you may think you are ending your pain but you only create more for everyone else around you.

PicoPhreako69

Very, very sad. Expect to see more of this as things continue to be bad in this country.
Also, "... pedestrian-proof fences".... Ain't no such thing.
If someone wants to climb a fence to end their life, they will find a way.

E.

just.... :[

TODOS SOMOS PUTOS

Now reviewing my insurance policy to see if it will cover "smashed windshield from sudden and unexpected descent of overhead object"

ShakinBoots

If someone is planning to commit suicide, I would hope they'd think twice about involving/using other innocent people to help carry out their plans, i.e., passing cars, parking on train tracks, crashing into on coming traffic etc.

I don't judge someone's pain and desire to end their own life, but I do think it's pretty shitty to take others out with you and/or traumatize random strangers in the process.

zee

Isnt the overpass at sunset & the 101 like 20 feet?

ShakinBoots

I was thinking the same thing. Niether of those overpasses are very high. I suppose they hoped a passing car would hit them? Obviously the guy had traffic stopped by the time he jumped though.