Man Kills Himself Jumping In Front Of Big Rig
In 2016, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) placed suicide as the 10th highest cause of death in the United States each year. An estimated 45,000 people decide to end their lives each year. Suicide may have been at the center of what caused a fatality in Houston in the early morning on Thursday on the Northwest Freeway.
According to a story appearing on the Houston Chronicle website, there was a suicide accident involving an 18-wheeler. The commercial big rig was traveling eastbound on U.S. 290 when a person jumped from an overpass bridge onto the freeway below. The big rig struck the victim at approximately 11:40 a.m.
Eyewitnesses told police investigators that it appeared that the man intentionally jumped from the bridge. So far authorities have not released the identity of the victim pending notification of family members.
It was almost three hours after the accident before the Northwest Freeway was fully reopened. Houston Police say that it is unlikely that the driver of the truck will face any charges in connection to the incident. The fatal accident is still currently under investigation.