screenshot via Fox
The primary job of police — above all else — is to save lives. And because of that, police usually employ a “do whatever it takes” mentality when it comes to saving peoples lives, and sometimes, that requires a little creativity.
During the early hours of Tuesday, April 24, in order to counteract a man who was threatening to commit suicide on a highway overpass in Oaks Park, Michigan State Police parked thirteen semi-trucks underneath the overpass to help shorten the fall, closing all the lanes of Highway 696 in the process.
After an initial call came in around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, police shut down the eastbound lanes as they organized semi-truck passing through the area to park underneath the bridge. They then did the same with the westbound lanes. In total, 13 semi trucks were parked under the overpass to shorten the distance of the fall if the unidentified man decided to jump.
According to Fox 2 Detroit: the man did not jump and the situation ended with him walking off the bridge. The man was taken by Huntington Woods Police to Beaumont hospital for evaluation. Michigan State Police, Huntington Woods, and Oak Park police were all on the scene and with negotiators talking to the man for several hours.
Highway 696 was reopened to travelers around 4 a.m. local time.
If you or someone you is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text to 741-741.