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A man is threatening to jump off the bluffs from Palisades Park onto the PCH just north of the California Incline, prompting authorities to close both directions of the busy highway. City News Service reports the man has been threatening to jump since 12:45 p.m. this afternoon and has been throwing rocks onto the roadway.
The McClure Tunnel at the end of the 10 freeway that takes westbound traffic to the northbound lanes of the PCH was closed by the CHP earlier this afternoon. Southbound PCH traffic is being detoured onto the single-lane Entrada Road, and traffic is piling up in downtown Santa Monica and on Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades.
With so many people flocking to the beaches on the holiday weekend, many posted pictures to social media of the jumper and the empty road.
The traffic nightmare comes on the final day of a three-day holiday weekend, as thousands flocked to the beaches to enjoy the sunny weather. On a normal day, up to 80,000 cars use that stretch of the PCH.
Update: The city of Santa Monica has announced that both directions of the PCH are now re-opened.
Pacific Coast Highway reopened in both directions just before 4 pm. #PCH #open
— City of Santa Monica (@santamonicacity) July 6, 2014
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone, remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt, and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
