Protester does backflip off freeway sign in Los Angeles

UPDATE: 6/27/2018 10:16 a.m. A man who snarled downtown Los Angeles commuter traffic for more than an hour by climbing a freeway sign is in custody.

The man did a backflip from the sign late morning Wednesday and landed on a huge inflated air bag deployed in traffic lanes by firefighters.

Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart says the man is safely in custody and firefighters are packing up equipment to clear the scene.

The incident on State Route 110 began before 8:30 a.m. and ended around 10 a.m., but not before causing tremendous traffic backups that spread onto connecting freeways and surface streets.

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A man who has climbed atop a freeway sign near a major interchange has snarled traffic through the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

The man suspended banners, one about fighting pollution, after climbing onto the sign over State Route 110 during the Wednesday morning rush hour.

Firefighters have deployed huge air bags under the sign as California Highway Patrol officers make efforts to get the man to come down.

The traffic snarl has spread onto connecting freeways and surface streets.