Gainesville Police are investigating after a Gainesville man died after jumping off the Interstate 75 overpass Saturday evening, police officials said.
Walter Philpot, 48, jumped from I-75’s southbound lane onto the Archer Road eastbound lane just after 6:30 p.m., said GPD Lt. Steven Bradford. Witnesses called police after they saw Philpot climb over the I-75 railing.
The man suffered traumatic injuries from the fall, but he was not hit by moving traffic, Bradford said. He was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officers have notified the family, but his death has not officially been ruled as a suicide. It is unknown why he jumped, Bradford said. No one else was injured.
In his 23 years as an officer, Bradford said this was the first time he has seen someone jump over that overpass.
In the past, people have jumped over the Southwest 20th Avenue overpass onto I-75, Bradford said.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office redirected traffic for about an hour and a half that evening, Bradford said. Officers are still investigating the case for further details.
The 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.
Contact Alyssa Ramos at aramos@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @LysKRamos
