I-94 Bridge Jumper Charged

For Release: 
Jul 7, 2009

GURNEE, IL - July 7, 2009 - The 19 year old Gurnee man, who jumped from the Stearns School Road overpass onto I-94 on June 25, was released from the hospital and transported to the Gurnee Police Department this morning. Christian Olive, of Gurnee, was charged with one count of wreckless conduct, a Class A Misdemeanor. Olive was taken to a bond hearing in Waukegan and he was remanded to the Lake County Jail on a $2000 bond.

At 3:25 PM on June 25, 2009, the Gurnee Police Department received a 911 call from a male subject stating he was 2 hours away and on top of a building, threatened to jump off the building unless he spoke to a subject in Gurnee. A Gurnee Police Officer spoke to the caller for nearly an hour trying to talk him out of harming himself. Meanwhile efforts were underway to try and locate the caller.

A Gurnee Police Officer located the caller standing on the Stearns School Road overpass above Interstate 94. Attempts were made to talk the subject away from the side of the overpass. Illinois State Police District 15 was notified of the incident and they had troopers attempting to block traffic on I-94.

At approximately 4:45 PM, the male subject jumped over the south side of the overpass and onto the westbound lanes of I-94. At about the same time, one of the two Illinois State Troopers stopping traffic was struck in one of the westbound lanes and injured. Olive suffered a fractured leg and arm. He and the Trooper were treated at the scene by Gurnee Fire Department paramedics and both were transported to Advocate Condell medical Center in Libertyville. The injured Trooper’s status is not known.