A San Rafael man driving a U-Haul truck and trailer allegedly stopped his vehicle on the Golden Gate Bridge this afternoon, blocking several lanes, and then attempted to escape on his bicycle, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The 38-year-old man stopped the 25-foot U-Haul truck towing a 15-foot trailer on northbound U.S. Highway 101 just north of the toll plaza around 3:20 p.m., CHP spokesman Andrew Barclay said.
As the driver moved out on to the bridge he steered sharply to the left and blocked all three northbound lanes, Barclay said.
He then jumped out of the truck, took a bicycle out of the cargo area, and then jumped on to the east sidewalk and began riding north, Barclay said.
He was seen throwing the keys for the truck off the bridge into the water as he rode, Barclay said.
CHP and Golden Gate Bridge Patrol officers checked the truck and determined that the cargo area and cab were both completely empty. Once they found the truck was safe, it was towed away.
All lanes were cleared within around 10 minutes, Barclay said.
Offices located the driver near the south end of the bridge and detained him after a brief struggle. He was placed on a 72-hour hold pending a mental health evaluation, and an investigation into possible criminal charges is in progress, Barclay said.
