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Standoff on Downtown L.A. Overpass Shuts 101 Freeway in Both Directions

The closure underscores how emergency rescues can freeze a vital commute corridor.

Overview

  • Authorities kept the 101 closed late into the night as LAPD SWAT tried to safely take a man off a pedestrian overpass.
  • Fire crews placed large inflatable cushions under the bridge to protect against a fall, and LAPD officers pried through fencing to limit his movement.
  • The California Highway Patrol issued a Sig-Alert, an emergency traffic warning, as both directions stayed blocked near Temple Street.
  • Traffic stalled for miles across downtown as drivers sat on the roadway and detours pushed southbound cars off at Los Angeles Street and northbound at Alameda Street.
  • Officials urged people to avoid the area and reports shared the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for anyone in distress.