Crazed Man Slows Traffic On Seattle Highway, Jumps On Car, Hangs Onto Windshield, Gets Tossed Off

SEATTLE — A 21-year-old man in crisis caused the closure of the southbound lanes of the State Route 99 tunnel for about half an hour Wednesday, police said.

Law enforcement said the man began walking in the road and climbed onto the roof of a passing car.

At 4 p.m., a man began calling 911 from multiple emergency phones inside the tunnel, authorities said.

Based on what the man said to 911 operators, they believed the man was “experiencing a crisis.”

Drivers also called 911 and reported that a man was in the tunnel, endangering himself and others.

At one point, police said the man had jumped onto the roof of a moving car, briefly holding on before falling to the ground.

When crisis-trained officers arrived at the scene, they closed the tunnel and spoke with the man who refused to leave.

Law enforcement said the man struck an officer in the arm and attempted to run from police but was taken into custody and taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.

The man will be booked into the King County Jail for trespassing and assault after being released from the hospital, officials said.