Police Investigating Death At High Five
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas Police responded to the scene of a deadly mishap early Wednesday at the High Five interchange, where North Central Expressway meets the LBJ Freeway. The incident happened at about 3:00 a.m. and left one person dead.
Dallas Fire-Rescue was also called to the scene after reports of a car crash on the elevated ramp that connects the northbound lanes to the eastbound lanes.
But officials located 29-year-old Chase Duckworth dead on the LBJ Freeway service road below. Witnesses told authorities that the man was a driver involved in the crash.
According to a police statement, the driver exited his vehicle after the crash and sat on the shoulder of the elevated ramp for a bit. He then jumped from the overpass and died. There were no signs that the man was pushed, but officials at the scene said that the death appeared to be accidental.
Police had closed both the ramp and the service road during the overnight hours, but have since opened everything back up to regular traffic. The death remains under investigation.
Meantime, family and friends are remembering Duckworth on social media as man who never seemed to have a bad day, who loved life and skateboarding.
"He is one of those guys that made friends with anyone. You could be at a gas station or a Rangers game. He would get to know you and he will touch your life, in a way that you will remember him," said one friend.
Chris Crowell had known Duckworth since they were both 13 years old. Both were skateboarders, and Crowell said Duckworth would help anyone he met.
"He once gave me his shoes. He told me mine were too tattered after skateboarding so he said 'here are some better ones' and gave me his. He cared more about others than he did himself," Crowell said.
Police at first believed the death was suicide, something Duckworth's friends rejected.
"He was never suicidal. He never had any enemies, and would never have taken his life," said one long-time friend.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Duckworth family with funeral costs.