Photo: Twitter / FHP Orlando
A crisis situation in Orlando was solved without casualties, with some help from truckers who didn’t hesitate to lend assistance to the police.
In what can best be described as a show of unity and civic responsibility, truckers responded to a summons from the Florida Highway Patrol, and parked under an overpass where a man was threatening to jump to his death.
The overpass was above the Florida Turnpike, and as the photo shared by the Florida Highway Patrol on Twitter shows, the man had climbed over the protective fence. He was threatening to jump to his death and police and negotiators were at the scene, trying to talk him out of it.
As a precaution, the police also called the truckers. They didn’t want to risk having the man jump or fall by accident, so they made sure to shorten the fall by asking the truckers to park their vehicles right underneath.
It took police an hour to solve the crisis and get the man to walk off the bridge on his own. Luckily, the truckers weren’t needed after all – but it was a great thing they responded and had come, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes says.
“Once again, we want to thank these truck drivers, who lined up their rigs on the Turnpike under the overpass while OPD Crisis Team members worked to successfully talk the man down safely,” Montes says.
This is not the first time police turn to truckers for help in a situation of this kind. In April this year, Michigan police had a jumper on an overpass and they called the truckers to park under the bridge, blocking the interstate in both directions during the intervention.
That situation too was resolved without incident. So while truckers’ assistance is not always needed, it’s a good thing to know police can rely on them when the situation arises.
The overpass was above the Florida Turnpike, and as the photo shared by the Florida Highway Patrol on Twitter shows, the man had climbed over the protective fence. He was threatening to jump to his death and police and negotiators were at the scene, trying to talk him out of it.
As a precaution, the police also called the truckers. They didn’t want to risk having the man jump or fall by accident, so they made sure to shorten the fall by asking the truckers to park their vehicles right underneath.
It took police an hour to solve the crisis and get the man to walk off the bridge on his own. Luckily, the truckers weren’t needed after all – but it was a great thing they responded and had come, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes says.
“Once again, we want to thank these truck drivers, who lined up their rigs on the Turnpike under the overpass while OPD Crisis Team members worked to successfully talk the man down safely,” Montes says.
This is not the first time police turn to truckers for help in a situation of this kind. In April this year, Michigan police had a jumper on an overpass and they called the truckers to park under the bridge, blocking the interstate in both directions during the intervention.
That situation too was resolved without incident. So while truckers’ assistance is not always needed, it’s a good thing to know police can rely on them when the situation arises.
Turnpike closed in both directions at mm 260. In Orlando. Man on the overpass in distress. #truckerstotherescue pic.twitter.com/uBcmScbWlE
— FHP Orlando (@FHPOrlando) August 28, 2018
All lanes on the Turnpike are back open. Distressed male came off the bridge, on his own.
— FHP Orlando (@FHPOrlando) August 28, 2018
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