A section of Interstate 240 in Memphis was closed on Friday morning following a tragic incident, as a man reportedly leapt to his death from the I-240 North Bridge at East McLemore Avenue. According to WREG, the Memphis Police Department received a call around 8:40 a.m. about a man jumping from the bridge. On arrival, officers found the man dead at the scene, prompting an investigation that led to significant traffic disruptions.
The northbound lanes of I-240 at East McLemore remained closed, as did the east and westbound lanes on the overpass above, resulting in traffic backing up to South Parkway. Memphis Police Department advised motorists to find an alternative route. The Tennessee Department of Transportation first reported the issue just before 8:50 a.m., and later, a traffic alert sent by Memphis Police Department around 10:40 a.m. confirmed the prolonged lane closures, FOX13 Memphis detailed.
While the full circumstances surrounding the man's death are still under investigation, the aftermath created immediate consequences for area commuters. Drivers were redirected to South Bellevue to head north and to South Parkway for east and west traffic.
As of now, Memphis police have not released the identity of the deceased individual. Traffic patterns remained altered for several hours as the investigation continued on the ground, with local news outlets providing ongoing updates to their viewers. As for those on the road at the time, the incident served as a somber disruption to the typical hum of morning commutes, according, to a report by Action News 5.
