Zimbabwean Commits Suicide By Jumping Off A Bridge On To Busy Highway In The UK
19 November 2018
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Paul Nyathi|A man suspected to be a Zimbabwean has died after falling from Scammonden Bridge in an incident which led to the full closure of the M62 one of the busiest roads in the United Kingdom over the weekend.

West Yorkshire Police received a call at 10:56am alerting them to the incident, and the motorway was immediately closed as paramedics and the air ambulance attended the scene.

Traffic travelling towards Manchester was taken off the motorway at junction 24 for Ainley Top, while people travelling towards Leeds on the eastbound carriageway were diverted off at junction 22 for Rishworth Moor.

The westbound stretch of the motorway reopened just before 11:45am on Sunday after hours of a standstill.

The eastbound stretch partially reopened at 12:30pm, with traffic moving freely in all lanes on the motorway by 2:30pm.

Police confirmed the man’s death shortly before 2pm.

According to locals and Zimbabweans based in the UK, the bridge is a “popular” suicide spot and the authorities have said that they will take measures to increase the bridge’s safety from as far back as 2015.

The man who is said to have been in his 50s and according to those who knew him, he may have been pushed into committing suicide by rumours that were circulating about his life.

Veteran broadcaster and journalist for Voice of America, Ezra Tshisa Sibanda said,

“Zimbabwean man from Manchester has died in a fall from M62 Scammonden Road Bridge.

“West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were called to the scene, between J22 and J23, shortly before 11 am Sunday morning. It’s believed the man in his 50s jumped to his death in a case of suspected suicide. Details of this tragic incident are sketchy as police are continuing with their investigations.