The Columbian | Serving Clark County, Washington

A man threatening suicide snarled traffic on the Interstate 205 bridge for several hours Monday evening.

The incident was reported shortly after 6 p.m. According to a news release from Portland police, callers reported a motorist on the northbound side of the bridge was distraught and threatening to jump.

Two Portland traffic officers responded, located the man’s truck and attempted to stop him. He waved at the officers and drove away from them at a slow speed into Washington.

At that point, Portland asked the Washington State Patrol for assistance and followed the man as he circled around the Highway 14 interchange and started to recross the bridge southbound.

At about mid-span, he parked the truck, got out, walked to the side of the bridge and climbed over the railing.

At that point, one officer began trying to talk him out of jumping while the other called for assistance.

As the incident went on, all southbound traffic was diverted off the bridge and onto Highway 14. The Portland Police Hostage Negotiation Team, and the Special Emergency Response Team, SERT, were called to the scene. Rescuers in boats waited below the bridge.

The incident ended safely at approximately 8:40 p.m. when the man was talked off the outside railing and was taken into custody. He was taken to a local hospital.

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