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Published Monday, April 16, 2012 | 10:09 p.m.
Updated Monday, April 16, 2012 | 11:33 p.m.
Highway closure
U.S. 95 near the Vegas Drive overpass reopened Monday night following a two-hour long incident where a man threatening to jump to his death was taken into custody by Metro Police.
The highway had been shut down in both directions near the overpass as authorities negotiated with a man threatening to kill himself, according to Nevada Highway Patrol.
Emergency responders received the call around 9 p.m., said trooper Loy Hixson of the Nevada Highway Patrol.
Metro Police set up a cushion truck below the overpass in an effort to protect the man as negotiators talked with the man, Hixson said.
U.S. 95 southbound traffic was diverted to Lake Mead Boulevard and northbound traffic was rerouted to Summerlin Parkway, Hixson said.
The highway reopened around 11:10 p.m., he said.
This was the second time today someone had attempted or threatened suicide on a valley freeway overpass.
A man attempting to jump off Interstate 215 early today was taken into custody by Metro Police, police said.
Taking one's own life is the ultimate expression of liberty by a free person. The prevention or denial of that act is the ultimate form of control.
Exactly zero miles an hour on the US 95 North. Lane lines marking where I want to go, except the valve controlling the stream of taillights that normally flow like red blood cells through this artery has been shut off. The alternating blue / red strobe lights ahead turn the highway walls into disco halls. People leave cars and walk on tarmac conceptualized for an altogether different use. We mostly impatiently wait as the authorities manage and contain the man who's life is disintegrating on the overpass up ahead. He's opted for this exact time and place to probe a path that leads from this life to whatever's next. The chatter between the watchers and waiters is that his girlfriend's on hand now to assist his would-be saviors as they negotiate him towards the ambulance, with it's sleepy sleep medicine and comforting restraints.
Has he not considered the places all these people need to be? A carload of eager and amped dorm room jockeys in a souped-up stang fist pump Rock Stars to classic rock next to me. Someone nearby smokes a cigar and taps his horn. Both things hopelessly pointless. A woman walks among the parked cars, a self appointed town crier, informing this newly formed impromptu community of what's happening with our 'jumper' as she hears it in real time over her phone from her boyfriend and his scanner. Fire trucks use the dirt side strip to get to the action and a bold man of action in a Super-Jeep can't endure another second of this nonsense. He flips a four tire screeching U and doubles back in the breakdown lane to exit the on-ramp. How's that gonna work? Someone else thinks it's an ace idea, and follows. Now nobody wants to be a chump and wait for the man leaning into the breeze of fate to sort himself out, so the entire lot of em' bolt back the way we just came, for the on-ramp now turned exit.
They're all gone now. Every last one of em. Save for me, and a mini van of teenagers with mom. The highway is completely clear in all lanes, both directions. Is this how the zombie apocalypse is going to look? But with zombies munching femurs in the medians? The helicopter with the gazillion candlepower light illuminates the scene on the flyover as the life of the man on the bridge melts down live on the 11 o'clock news. The kids from the van sequel and cavort and jostle in a 65mph zone as safely as at the park.
Something changes with what's happening with the man. Suddenly cars begin flowing on the other side of the highway. The lights of an ambulance blink on, and the all clear is given. Show's over. There's a burst of closing laughter from the frolicking teenagers and they zig-zag back to the van as mom gathers up the chicks. The empty highway takes us home.
Had this person caused a massive accident (possibly leading to the death of innocent victims) in dropping from the overpass, I wonder how those who feel that: "Taking one's own life is the ultimate expression of liberty by a free person" would jive with the rights of others to travel on safe roadways? I'm all for freedom but not when it adversely affects others who have just as much right to those freedoms. If you intend to take your own life, please do it it less dramatically and with no harm to your fellow citizens.