101 Freeway Reopens After Standoff in Downtown Los Angeles
The 101 Freeway through downtown Los Angeles was reopened late Tuesday night following a lengthy standoff with a man on an overpass. Authorities confirmed he was safely removed from the situation.
Units from the Los Angeles Police Department, including the SWAT team, alongside the California Highway Patrol, worked with the Los Angeles Fire Department throughout the tense response. The individual was taken into custody around 10 p.m.
While his medical condition is still being assessed, firefighters mentioned that the area was cleared and the highway was reopened.
Earlier reports indicated that this individual had been atop the pedestrian structure for several hours after threatening to jump, and there was initially no set timeline for the highway’s reopening.
Traffic was significantly impacted, with both northbound and southbound lanes near Temple Street closed. The incident was reported near 333 North Los Angeles Street just before 5:10 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Aerial footage revealed heavy traffic congestion by 6 p.m., with vehicles backed up for miles and commuters caught in gridlock stretching across downtown.
Firefighters had deployed a large inflatable cushion under the overpass as a precaution to protect the man if he attempted to jump.
As the ongoing situation progressed, emergency responders utilized pry bars to limit the individual’s movements and attempted to gain access to the area by breaking through a fence.
Amid the crisis, the California Highway Patrol issued a SIG Alert due to the sustained road closure during peak hours. Southbound traffic was detoured at Los Angeles Street, and northbound vehicles were rerouted at Alameda Street.
The busy highway experienced heightened congestion, exacerbated by increased traffic from a nearby Dodgers game, prompting officials to urge drivers to find alternate routes.
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