LA drivers stranded on freeway because suicidal man threatened to jump

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Pinkmani

I don't see the need to shut down both sides of the highway for a suicidal man. As much as he wanted to die, he would've preferred getting help. Those who are seriously suicidal will actually try to do it, not threaten to do it.

What more do I want? I want to win the Mega Millions this week before someone else does.

Maybe it's official policy to shut down both sides when a human life is at stake. Just guessin'.

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Maybe it's official policy to shut down both sides when a human life is at stake. Just guessin'.

They always shut the freeway down. And the overpass. One reason being they don't want some regular Joe on his way to work being the guy whose car the jumper lands on. Or who runs over the jumper, thus killing him. They also don't want the jumper landing on someone and killing them. It happened a few years ago when someone jumped off a parking structure, IIRC, and killed the guy he landed on.

[GaLineman]

He should be taken to a mental hospital and kept there until he is no longer a danger to himself or others. And no, I do not want somebody to die just so I won't be late.

[Haakon]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Maybe it's official policy to shut down both sides when a human life is at stake. Just guessin'.

More likely it became policy because in some previous incident they didn't do it and someone sued the department, so now they take the safe route and just shut everything down. Big government isn't exactly known for making the moral choice vs the expedient/selfish one.