AZUSA >> Police and a good Samaritan rescued a suicidal woman found dangling from an overpass of the 210 Freeway in Azusa Thursday afternoon, officials said.
The incident unfolded shortly after 12:30 p.m. at the Vernon Avenue overpass, according to California Highway Patrol and Azusa police officials.
Police responding to reports of the possible jumper encountered an Azusa woman in her 20s, who was threatening to jump, Azusa police Sgt. Andy Sutcliffe said.
The woman was outside of a chain link safety fence, he said. A man who saw the woman up on the overpass had used his belt to tie one of her hands to the fence so she would not plummet onto the freeway.
“A good Samaritan attempted to secure one of her wrists to the fence using a leather pants belt,” Sutcliffe said.
“While standing on the overpass, Azusa officers handcuffed both of the victims wrists to the fence which prevented her from falling,” the sergeant said.
Firefighters then used a ladder to help bring the woman down.
Officials took the troubled woman for psychiatric evaluation, Sutcliffe said.
Authorities shut down the three right lanes of the westbound 210 Freeway for just over 10 minutes, CHP Officer Jennifer Cassidy said.
The incident caused a significant backup for both directions of the 210 Freeway.