The incident began when California Highway Patrol and San Diego Police responded to reports of a possible jumper at 12:38pm on Monday, April 7, prompting a full closure of all northbound lanes of I-5 near Clairemont Drive. SDPD located the man on the northbound side of the freeway, standing near the edge of the overpass. A traffic break was initiated immediately.
By 12:50pm, CHP units had fully shut down northbound lanes, diverting vehicles toward Sea World Drive and I-8. Traffic quickly backed up to the downtown corridor, and by 12:55pm, a Sig Alert was issued warning drivers to avoid the area entirely.
At 1:24pm, the man moved off the overhead sign structure and onto the sidewalk of the overpass, remaining on the north-facing side of the bridge. By 1:33pm, CHP’s 87-S2 unit relayed a surprising twist: the man told SDPD he had no intention of jumping, was not a 5150 (involuntary psychiatric hold) case, and refused voluntary admission. Instead, he stated he was attempting to break a record - for "time and occurrences on a bridge."
As traffic inched forward around the affected zone, officers continued to negotiate. Although Caltrans estimated a 60–90 minute arrival for equipment, the Sig Alert was lifted by 1:35pm, signaling some easing of the situation. Still, congestion lingered for hours. By 7:15pm, the man was still there—standing on the edge of the Clairemont overpass - causing further traffic impacts as commuters battled residual delays during the evening rush.
As of 7:10am Tuesday, the man remains on the overpass, occasionally hanging off the side and climbing a light post. According to the CHP Traffic Incident Log, multiple closures are still in place, including Northbound I-5 at Clairemont Drive: all traffic diverted to I-8; Sea World Drive onramp to northbound I-5 closed; Westbound I-8 to northbound I-5 closed; and Rosecrans onramp to northbound I-5 closed. A CHP Alert states the closures will be lifted as of 7:38am.
CHP has activated changeable message signs across the region and continues to divert vehicles at key junctions to mitigate the morning gridlock. Congestion on northbound I-5 now stretches well past Mission Bay, with backups approaching the downtown area again.
The Clairemont overpass has been the site of serious freeway disruptions in the past, including a fatal incident in November 2019 that closed lanes for over two hours. But Monday’s episode stands apart not just for its duration, but for its unusual motivation.
Whether it’s a stunt, a statement, or something else entirely, the man’s prolonged presence has turned one of San Diego’s most traveled corridors into a parking lot. Law enforcement has not confirmed what action, if any, will be taken once the standoff ends, but commuters are urged to use alternate routes such as I-805 or I-8 for the foreseeable future.
For now, San Diego waits - watching, detouring, and sitting in traffic - as a man with an undefined record in mind turns a freeway into his stage.
Originally published on April 7, 2025. Updated on April 8, 2025.
