Suicidal Pedestrian Transported to Safety

Highway 101 through Santa Barbara was temporarily closed in both directions Friday morning, as CHP officers responded to a suicidal pedestrian who was threatening to jump from the shoulder of 101 northbound to North Calle Cesar Chavez some 30 feet below.

According to a prepared statement from the CHP, officers responded at about 9:10 a.m. to a report of a pedestrian walking along the freeway. After locating the distressed man between Garden and Milpas Streets, CHP Officer Joseph Rodriguez talked him away from the right shoulder of 101 northbound. A Sheriff’s deputy used a Taser to “subdue” the pedestrian, as stated in the CHP release.

The pedestrian was taken to CARES (Crisis and Recovery Emergency Services), the county’s mental health facility, where he was put on a two-day hold, the CHP said.