Title: Mental Health Crisis Shuts Down Lower Deck of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
Date: July 21, 2023
The lower deck of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge has remained closed for over seven hours as California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers negotiate with a man experiencing a mental health crisis. The situation has caused significant disruption with no estimated time for the reopening of the bridge.
The incident began when the man climbed over the railing, prompting officers to intervene and attempt to bring him back to safety. Motorists traveling eastbound on the bridge have been stuck since approximately 2 p.m. Negotiators from the CHP were dispatched to the scene to work towards resolving the situation. In the meantime, the westbound deck, or upper deck, has remained open for traffic.
Drivers planning to cross the bridge from San Rafael to Richmond have been advised to seek alternative routes. To facilitate the resolution of the crisis, CHP started clearing stuck motorists from the bridge and closed the entrance to the bridge in San Rafael. The reopening of the bridge remains uncertain and is contingent on the successful resolution of the ongoing negotiation.
CHP Officer Darrell Horner stated, “Negotiators are working to get the male subject to come back over the railing,” emphasizing that the reopening of the bridge hinges on the resolution of the crisis.
For any updates or further information, please contact Jordan Parker at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @jparkerwrites.
Jordan Parker, a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Time.news, is a graduate of Sacramento State University with a degree in journalism. During his time at the university, he worked as a reporter and editor for the acclaimed student newspaper, The State Hornet. As the first Black editor in chief, his leadership led to multiple national honors for the publication. In his free time, Parker enjoys watching movies, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.