Warning: This story contains potentially disturbing details about suicide.
First responders and suicide prevention advocates in B.C.’s Lower Mainland are condemning the behavior of drivers whose commutes were affected by a crisis on the Metro Vancouver Freeway bridge this week, including some cases of impatient drivers causing crashes and obstructing the work of the employees.
The Alex Fraser Bridge, which carries Highway 91 over the Fraser River in Delta, British Columbia, was partially closed for more than eight hours Monday as police worked to rescue a distressed man who “was off the guard rail.”
The Delta Police Department (DPD) shut down the southbound lanes of the bridge so negotiators could safely speak with the man.
But some travelers are said to be more concerned about their journeys being disrupted.
“Various distractions affected DPD’s priority of saving life, including drivers ‘snaking’ to get a view, honking their horns, yelling at the individual in crisis and even encouraging them to take action,” a statement from the police.
“Some affected drivers mounted the bridge, made contact with police officers, intervened in the negotiations and even videotaped or photographed the person in crisis.”
In two separate cases, drivers bypassed barricades or traffic signals, keeping the road closed. One of them struck a car on the freeway and a concrete barrier, “causing several thousand dollars in damage to all vehicles involved,” police said.
Some employees had to leave the man-in-crisis meeting to respond to the crash, the statement said.
Police also determined that another driver who failed to pay attention to a signal was behind the wheel. Their driver’s licenses were suspended for 90 days, the statement said.
Drivers are being reminded to keep the crisis in perspective
Advocates said the behavior was a reminder to put the temporary frustration of traffic in perspective.
“You have the police and people trying to help this person live sends the message that people care, and then people honking their horns inadvertently sends the message that their trip home is more important,” said BC Crisis Center Executive Director Stacey Ashton, who saw the crisis firsthand on her commute home across the bridge.
“I can guarantee you that the person who is in a mental health crisis is having the worst day.”
Ashton, who has worked in the suicide prevention field for about 30 years, said most people understand when they see someone in crisis and it’s “relatively rare” to see someone frustrated to the point of driving dangerously.
“The message I would give to people who are just out there is that the crisis can come at any time. You don’t know what’s going to happen next in your life, and something amazing can happen… and when it does, you can reach out for help,” she said.
After eight hours, the man agreed to walk back over the rail to safety.
Police said the factors determining whether to close all or part of the bridge were “complex”.
“The bridge deck is a noisy environment; the sound of engines, tires and road noise is compounded by strong gusts of strong wind and swaying of the bridge, increasing the danger to participants. While the overall decision to close the bridge is complex, it is driven by DPD’s priority of preserving life,” the police statement said.
BC’s Ministry of Transportation, which is responsible for several of the Lower Mainland’s bridges, says it is working with crisis centers and law enforcement, among others, “to ensure that everything possible is done to prevent suicide attempts on our structures and to ensure people’s safety”.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact:
- Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code required)
- 1-800-SUICIDE, anywhere in British Columbia: 1-800-784-2433
- Online Youth Chat Service: YouthInBC.com (noon-1am)
- Online chat service for adults: CrisisCentreChat.ca (noon-1am)
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