Lanes closed on I-40 after police say student jumped to death

SHELBY COUNTY, TN (WMC) - A tragic story resulted in a traffic nightmare Monday night. At one point, all westbound lanes of I-40 were completely closed after deputies say an Arlington High School student jumped to his death.

Investigators believe a 16-year-old boy parked his car atop the Davis Plantation Road overpass before jumping onto I-40 below.

Firefighter Louis Martin saw a lot of tragedy in his 28 years with the Memphis Fire Department.

"Yeah, it was tough," he said.

He now drives a bus part-time and imparts advice to as many children as he can.

"Don't worry about what anybody says to them, you know?" said Martin. "Cause everybody got problems.

"And just be yourself, you know, you can't be what somebody else wants you to be," Martin added.

There were no details on what may have prompted the teenager to take his own life. But many other young people quickly reacted on Twitter.

"You never know what someone is going through. Don't be a person to make it worse. Everyone is special in their own way. No matter what," wrote one.

"Praying for this family's hard time right now," tweeted another.

"Just don't be afraid to open up," said 23-year-old Allison Maldonado. She said that helped get her through.

"Things will sometimes feel horrible at one point, but they'll pass," said Maldonado.

Traffic was re-routed for a time as this investigation started Monday night. Sadly, there is no turning back for one young man.

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.

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