Suicide Threat Stalls Freeway

A man threatening to commit suicide by leaping off a Hollywood Freeway bridge downtown forced the closure of the roadway early today until he was finally forced by officers to jump into an air bag, authorities said.

Clarence Hunter, 54, who had also threatened to set himself on fire, was not hurt in the fall and was booked after police discovered he was wanted on a $2,500 battery warrant, Sgt. Bill McDaniel said. Traffic was blocked off in both the north and southbound lanes of the freeway for more than two hours while police tried to coax him from the Alameda overpass east of the four-level interchange.