Watch as good Samaritans help talk down suicidal man from freeway overpass in Hesperia

HESPERIA, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A few Good Samaritans helped save the life of a would-be jumper from a Hesperia overpass here Tuesday afternoon.

At about 12:34 pm, 911 dispatch received reports of a jumper on the Main Street overpass along the northbound I-15 freeway. Hesperia Sheriff’s Station Spokeswoman Jackie Chambers said, the subject was talked down by Samaritans and is approximately 21-years-old.

Darlene Martinez Gil and her husband Ivan are among those good Samaritans. As the couple drove across the Main Street overpass they saw the young man who was standing on the outside of the chain link fence directly over lanes of traffic on the freeway below.

In the video, Darlene and her husband could be heard shouting at the young man telling him not to jump and to come back over so they could talk as they stopped their vehicle. Darlene begins to pray as she gets out of the truck and ask’s Jehovah to give her the right words to help this young man.

During the minute-long cell phone video, Darlene is heard talking with the young man asking him questions like what his name was, his age, and asking if he needs someone to talk too? Darlene said she made it an effort not to show any up close video of the young man’s face and decided to stop recording when he felt she was going to call the police.

“I knew I had to stay calm and that was hard because I just couldn’t imagine how I would deal with it if he did jump. But I’m so grateful that wasn’t the case,” said Darlene. I think he felt like he could trust me because I told him that my son also has depression problems and that I even took antidepressants and that he was not alone. That I truly understood how he felt.”

Darlene said that for nearly 15 minutes they spoke with the young man keeping him calm as they convinced him to walk back to the entrance of the bridge where he was helped by first responders and police. “I kept on assuring him that we cared and even though we didn’t know him we could help him get help,” stated Darlene.

Darlene wanted to express her gratitude and thanks to a woman named Amber and two other men who she did not get their name but stayed until the end to make sure everything was ok.

Darlene, her husband, and their 4-year-old daughter were on their way to Pinon Hills, where they planned on picking up a few mini pigs for their petting zoo.

“We were supposed to arrive there by 12 pm, but we were running a bit late. Now I know why and I’m grateful that we were late for the piggies but not a minute too soon or a minute too late to help this young man,” said Darlene.

VVNG would like to thank the people who stopped their busy day to lend an ear and a helping hand to a young person in distress. We are proud of your actions and thank you for being in the right place, at the right time.

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