Jump alert brings M5 to a standstill (From Worcester News)

Jump alert brings M5 to a standstill

7:50am Saturday 8th September 2012 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

THE M5 was closed in both directions for about 30 minutes after a man crossed the safety barrier on an overhead bridge above the motorway.

West Mercia Police were called to a bridge between junction seven, Worcester South, and junction eight at the M50 at 1.50pm yesterday to find the man on the wrong side of the safety barrier.

Officers remained at High Green bridge, near Croome Court, and spoke to the man, who moved to the right side of the barrier.

Both the bridge and the motorway were closed for about 30 minutes but were re-opened by police once the man was safe.

A West Mercia Police spokeswoman said: “We took a call from someone concerned about the safety of a man on a bridge going over the motorway.

“He was on wrong side of the barrier but is now safe and well on the right side of the bridge.”

The man was eventually detained under the mental health act and taken to hospital.

A similar incident took place on July 31 this year, when the motorway was closed due to fears that a woman could jump from a bridge between junctions six and seven.

The woman was successfully talked out of jumping by officers from West Mercia Police but there was solid traffic for up to two miles northbound and for half a mile southbound during the incident.