MY EVERETT NEWS

The deputy remained calmly talking with the man who moved along the outside of the bridge

The deputy spent more than an hour talking with the young man

The man is hanging onto the outside of the pedestrian overpass

The deputy helps the man back over the bridge and onto the walkway

Early Father’s Day morning both directions of Interstate 5 in south Everett were shut down as a young man climbed onto the outside of the pedestrian bridge over I-5 north of 128th. The incident happened shortly before 6:00am. Southbound I-5 traffic was diverted at Everett Mall Way and Northbound I-5 was diverted off 128th. Several dozen cars were stopped on southbound I-5 itself, unable to turn around as the incident played out. For more than an hour, a Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy listened to the young man who at times hung over the freeway with just 3 fingers. I was nearby and able to hear as the deputy calmly talked with the young man. Alternately distraught, angry and sad the man several times made threats to jump. The deputy calmly listened, speaking with the man and following him back and forth across the bridge. After more than an hour the man agreed to come off the bridge and as he did the deputy gently helped him back over the fence to the cheers of motorists who had been stopped on I-5 and were watching from below. No one was hurt, the young man was taken to get the proper help and motorists who were delayed were able to get back on their way. I was honored to shake the deputy’s hand who spent that time talking with the young man. Thanks and a Happy Father’s Day to that deputy and all of the other deputies, police, troopers and firefighters who made this story have a positive outcome.

11:30 UPDATE: At approximately 10:30 AM, an Everett Fire Department unit came upon an accident involving a passenger vehicle and a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office motor patrol deputy just north of the intersection of Evergreen Way and 112th St SW. Both the deputy and driver of the other vehicle sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to Providence Hospital.

Additional details will be released when they become available.

Here are a few early pictures of a crash involving an SCSO Motorcycle Officer. SCSO has sent out a Twitter message that the injuries are not life threatening. More details coming…

Hard to believe there were no serious injuries in this crash in front of the Everett Mall Monday just before noon. Click on photo to enlarge.

More details about the service for Trooper O’Connell are being released. MyEverettNews.com will update this site as needed.

We’re getting more information on the potential impact to traffic in Everett from the memorial service for Trooper Sean O’Connell tomorrow.

Yesterday the City of Everett released their plan and today the Washington State Patrol issued the following press release…

Motorists traveling southbound I-5 between Smokey Point and downtown Everett during the mid-day on Thursday should allow extra time to get to their destination.

A procession of as many as 500 police vehicles is expected to honor fallen Washington State Trooper Sean O’Connell. At this time it’s expected the procession will depart shortly after 11:00 a.m. from the Smokey Point Rest Stop along southbound I-5 near Exit 207. It will leave I-5 at Everett Avenue, and proceed to Comcast Arena.

Members of the public wishing to view the motorcade may do so from:

· The sidewalks of any overpass between Smokey Point and downtown Everett. Please do not park private vehicles on the overpasses;

· 34th Ave NE north of 116th, which faces the freeway;

· Along Everett Avenue in Everett as the motorcade exits the freeway.

For members of the public attending the ceremony, parking is available at the 10th Street Boat Launch Parking Lot on the Everett waterfront located at 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive.

Major traffic interruptions are expected in downtown Everett on Thursday as the funeral for WSP Trooper Sean O’Connell will be held inside Comcast Arena at Everett at 1:00pm. Here’s the latest from the City of Everett…

The City of Everett is advising drivers that downtown streets and lanes will be temporarily closed Thursday throughout the day for Washington State Patrol Trooper Sean O’Connell’s memorial service, which is planned for 1 p.m. at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Avenue.

The City of Everett is encouraging members of the public who want to attend the service to park at the 10th Street Boat Launch, which is located at W. Marine View Drive and 10th Street on the city’s waterfront. Everett Transit will provide a free shuttle service from the 10th Street Boat Launch parking lot to Comcast Arena approximately every 15 minutes, between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Return shuttles to the 10th Street Boat Launch will start at 3 p.m. and continue to 5:30 p.m.

How to get to the 10th Street Boat Launch:

For travelers driving north I-5, exit at Pacific Avenue in Everett and drive westbound to W. Marine View Drive. Turn right onto northbound W. Marine View Drive to 10th Street. Take a left into the 10th Street Boat Launch parking lot.

For travelers driving south I-5, use State Route 529 (exit is just south of Marysville). Take SR 529 into Everett. Veer right onto W. Marine View Drive. Follow W. Marine View Drive to 10th Street. Take a right into the 10th Street Boat Launch parking lot.

Due to street closures and traffic conditions around Comcast Arena, Everett Transit and Community Transit regular bus and paratransit services in downtown Everett will be severely impacted. Paratransit customers are encouraged to limit their trips to and from downtown if possible, as pickup and drop off times may be delayed due to traffic conditions.

Bus service in north Everett, particularly on Wetmore, Hewitt, and Everett avenues will be affected significantly and many bus stops on these streets will be closed. Temporary bus stops on detour routes will be installed.

Route information, detours, and stop closures will be posted on the Everett Transit website at EverettTransit.org and Facebook page , and details will be updated periodically. Everett Transit customers are strongly encouraged to verify their commute online or call 425-257-7777 for detailed information, and plan accordingly.

Luckily no serious injuries after a garbage truck rolled over on its side Tuesday afternoon near the Everett waterfront. It seems two vehicles, a Toyota SUV and a Mercedes sedan, were in the turn lane from westbound Everett Avenue to southbound W. Marine View Drive when a loaded garbage truck tipped over as it was turning onto Everett Avenue. The drivers of both sedans saw the truck tipping and were able to get their cars partially out-of-the-way as it went over. Everett Avenue was blocked for a few hours while the truck was removed.