The101 Freeway through downtownLos Angeles remained shut down in both directions late Tuesday night after an hours-long standoff with a man on an overpass, bringing traffic to a standstill well into the evening commute.
Authorities told The California Post the man was still on the pedestrian structure hours after firstthreatening to jump, with the situation ongoing and no clear timeline for reopening.
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, including SWAT personnel, remained on scene working to safely take him into custody, authorities told The Post.
The closure affected both northbound and southbound lanes near Temple Street, where the incident began just before 5:10 p.m. at 333 N. Los Angeles Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
By 6 p.m., aerial footage showed miles of completely stalled traffic, with congestion stretching across downtown as commuters remained trapped on the roadway.
Fire crews deployed large inflatable rescue cushions beneath an overpass to protect the man threatening to jump.
Traffic backed up for miles while responders worked the scene, with graffiti-covered retaining walls visible along the freeway corridor.
Meanwhile, LAPD officers worked to access the structure, using pry bars to break through fencing in an effort to limit his movement.
The California Highway Patrol issued a Sig-Alert as the crisis dragged on.
As of 10:00 p.m., the closure remained in effect, with southbound drivers diverted at Los Angeles Street and northbound traffic rerouted at Alameda Street.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
