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When the 105 Freeway in Paramount was closed on Thursday evening because a man was contemplating a suicide attempt on an overpass, some Angelenos who were stuck on the road thought it would be the perfect time to take selfies.
Authorities received calls around 5:30 p.m. from drivers that there was a man threatening to commit suicide on the overpass, according to the L.A. Times. The CHP shut down the 105 Freeway from both directions starting at 6:30 p.m. and reopened it at 9:30 p.m. when they managed to convince the man to not jump, reported the Press-Telegram.
105 Freeway still shut down in Paramount as negotiation w/ man on bridge continues pic.twitter.com/2zfciugdVt
— KTLA (@KTLA) April 11, 2014
If u r driving do not get the 105 e & w this man stopped the whole freeway by the paramount/Garfield exit :o pic.twitter.com/gBtjoG6s3Q
— ash (@asshhbamm) April 11, 2014
One of the most shocking photos people took was this happy-go-lucky group posing in front of the overpass with the jumper in the background. The photo was first taken on the @samdawg1 Instagram account, but he has since made his profile private.
The 105 freeway selfie from Instagram user @samdawg1 http://t.co/2ORJTsFe9t pic.twitter.com/SC9JxWKi3v
— Eric Thovson (@ericthovson) April 11, 2014
Marcus Smith of KTLA tweeted out a photo showing others taking selfies on the road.
This is an aerial view of the freeway backed up all the way to the 605 Freeway:
105 Fwy is backed up all the way to 605 while authorities respond to man on ped bridge, @Sky5Tim reports pic.twitter.com/tPzVxhet1d
— KTLA (@KTLA) April 11, 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.
