Highway Patrol Officer Talks Suicidal Man Off Bridge

At about 8:27 p.m. on Tuesday, Wyoming State Troopers found a man sitting on the bridge railing overpass on Interstate 80 and Roundtop Road. Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch reported many calls from citizens fearing that the man was going to jump.

When the first trooper got there, he found the man standing on the bridge deck of I-80 near traffic. The trooper directed traffic away from the man and engaged him in conversation. As they were talking, the man started to walk away from the trooper and headed towards the overpass. After speaking more with the trooper, the man sat down next to the bridge railing and the trooper was eventually able to talk him into receiving help and was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center to be cared for.

Due to the nature of the event, the westbound lanes of I-80 were temporarily closed for the safety of both the suicidal man and the public. Assistance was requested by the Patrol from the Laramie County Sheriff's Department in the event a negotiator would have been needed. Deputies with the Laramie County Sheriff's Department responded and provided assistance on scene.

The combined efforts of the concerned motorists, dispatch and law enforcement resulted in successfully getting the man the help he needed and avoided a potentially dangerous situation. The identity of the man is not being released.