By: stormchaser28 on 11/4/09
That's crazy. Hope this guy gets the psychiatric care he needs.

By: Gymnast1923 on 11/4/09
I didnt know people still did this as a form of suicide. I feel bad for him to think things are so bad there was no other option. I hope he has family and friends to support him and help him through this!

By: outoftowner1923 on 11/4/09
am curious as to why the paper decided to print this? Most news outlets do not report suicides or attempted suicides. Granted you did not state the person's name. However depending upon the reasoning for this person's jump you have just now given him the attention he may or may not have been seeking. Prayers with the family in this gentleman being able to receive the services he needs

By: jjackson on 11/4/09
This is Jeffrey Jackson, the managing editor of the Owatonna People's Press. Outoftowner1923 raises a good question. I would point everyone to my most recent blog ("Why the delay in the news?" http://www.owatonna.com/news.php?viewStory=111513) for an explanation of why the paper decided to print it as well as other issues in reporting this story.

By: Indians on 11/5/09
There are good reasons for putting this in the paper: other people's safety. I don't give a sh*t about the guy that jumped. But I do want others to have the heads up that there are "falling idiots" on the interstate.
You people amuse me. This is an significant act of selfishness, and you feel sorry for him.

By: Responder on 11/5/09
Thats right Indians! We don't have a heart of stone and realize some people are in such despair and need help. I do feel bad that some people are so distraught that they think ending their lives is the answer. He does need help. Who does not at some time in their life?

By: Tiny on 11/5/09
Just glad no one hit him, imagine the gilt of the poor person if they did,and have to live with themselves thinking why me!!!!!!

By: jrs on 11/5/09
Please understand that suicide is a very complicated thing.IT is not as a selfish of an act as one would assume. It is an act of hopelessness. And the mental health system is of little use. The lack of health care reaches mental as much as physical health. Seven years ago when my sister took her own life she thought she was doing us a favor. She thought her illness was a burden for us. My prayers go to this family and this man. I hope he can get the help that wasnt there for my sister and many others!

By: charliebrown on 11/5/09
I agree JRS-if you have never been on the breaking edge you have no idea what it is like. It is terrible, you feel no one cares and the pain is incredible. People like Indians don't know what it is like and probably would not want to help if one of their loved ones were on the breaking edge.

I hope he gets help, but, his life will never be the same because of this attempt and his "mental" state. People will classify him as a mental case...I hope the stigma doesn't stay with him.

By: irlmmh2009 on 11/6/09
Really Indians? Are you seriously concerned with people falling on your head? I'm wondering, because of how ignorant you are, if someone already did.

By: freebird on 11/6/09
I also agree with JRS. Mental illness is a genuine MEDICAL illness, and many people seem to forget that. I hope no one would make ridiculous comments like that about someone who had cancer and their illness had taken a bad turn for the worse, which is probably what happened to this man. His illness started to get the best of him. I hope he gets the help he needs and can find peace, and that no one was hurt during this incident.

By: secretsquirrel on 11/7/09
JRS makes excellent points and many you would never suspect have been on the very edge of this abyss. Some did not come back. However, Indian makes a good point oo. Everyone freaked when someone threw pumpkins off an overpass in Rice County and expressed great concern about the traffic below. It could easily have killed someone.
Imagine a 100+ pound man coming through your windshield at 70 mph.
It's tragic no matter how you look at it but society is conditioned to operate on the premise that it can't hurt if it isn't bleeding. Back injuries, depression, mental illnesses of all kinds are not necessarily visible but they are all painful and can be debilitating.
The fact is that the man is NOT thinking normally. Suicide is often referred to as a selfish act by those left behind because they feel cheated of time with a loved one.
Others perceive it to be a cowardly act. Think about it sometime sometime and see if you would have the guts to follow through. Most likely, you would fall back on the "I'm not a coward excuse." It has NOTHING to do with bravery, selfishness or finding an 'easy way out.'
JRS is right: "It is an act of hopelessness." Not cowardice or selfishness.
The police and the paper were fine in how this has been handled in my opinion.

By: Are_you_serious on 11/7/09
I agree with Jrs. As a person who is working towards a degree with helping indivduals and families with mental health issues it is amazing on what you learn as to what some of these people have gone through in life. We as a community have to stay strong that when we have someone in our community that is attempting to take their life it affects all of us as a community wheather we like to agree on it or not because as much as the changes that we are experincing as a community the impact is not just microlevel it is at a macrolevel and that affects the entire community you and I. We have to stand together as a community and help one another....As there are several changes that are comming our way again and with the holidays and families that have been laid off and another major company is about to do another large layoff it is not going to be an easy year for us as a community. Jrs sorry for your lost for our family has indured several losses in a similar manner it is never easy.

By: secretsquirrel on 11/7/09
Slightly off-topic but it relates to the photo so I figure it's safe...
As this does not directly involve anyone posting here, I feel okay with asking a pertinent question and not offending anyone:

Did anyone notice the rear end of the red Alero in the accompanying photo?
I blew it up trying to figure out what all the bumper stickers were... illegible.

In answer to your questions:
No, I am NOT insensitive.
Yes, I AM easily distracted by shiny things.