In April 2018, Detroit police responded to a man threatening to jump from an overpass on Interstate 696. Michigan State Police devised an unexpected plan, flagging down 13 semi-truck drivers to line up beneath the bridge, forming a “safety net” to reduce the man’s fall if he jumped.
The trucks stayed parked for several hours while negotiators worked. Eventually, the man was safely escorted to a hospital. Photos of the scene went viral after Michigan State Police tweeted them, thanking the truck drivers and reminding the public of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.