Unsung Heroes Deserve Praise

On December 5, 2025, from approximately 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., Del Mar Heights Road and lanes on Interstate 5 were closed because a mentally unstable man threatened to jump from the overpass. Community residents and school leaders at Del Mar Hills and Heights were the unsung heroes that day and they deserve praise for keeping our children safe during a chaotic situation. 

The incident began shortly after 11:30 a.m. when a motorist spotted a man on the Del Mar Heights bridge and called 911. Police were sent to try to retrieve the man, and specially trained negotiators were also summoned to the scene. The public received little-to-no communication about the closures from the various law enforcement agencies involved, compounding the initial gridlock and bringing much of San Diego County to a standstill.  According to media reports, San Diego police acknowledged the trouble the incident caused for motorists but said if a similar situation were to reoccur, they’d respond the same way. Three state senators, four assemblymembers, and one San Diego city councilman sent a letter to state transportation and law enforcement officials requesting answers to questions and pushing for a coordinated response plan for freeway closures in the future.  As lawmakers and agency officials review and revisit these policies, including the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station, which services Del Mar, more coordination with our local schools is needed to address concerns specific to children. 

That day, a police helicopter circled above Del Mar Hills Academy while children were outside. Lacking any notification by law enforcement, Del Mar Hills Academy Principal Andrea Sleet brought the children indoors to eat lunch until school staff could confirm that the surrounding area was safe.  Community members then began reporting traffic concerns, and the schools sent parents emails around 1:50pm letting them know about the traffic and reassuring parents they would remain with their children.  Community residents reported erratic driving at the intersection of Mango Drive and Del Mar Heights Road and believed children would have difficulty crossing the intersection.  While police presence was requested at the Mango/Heights intersection, none arrived.  Going above and beyond their normal school duties, Hills Principal Andrea Sleet with plant manager Jose Casas, as well as Heights Principal Kate Daniel with assistant Mohsani Hoveyda, donned safety vests and provided crossing assistance at the Mango/Heights intersection for nearly an hour that afternoon to help children safely walk home.  Many children remain at school for aftercare, so school leaders were quick thinking and implemented commonsense solutions to ensure all remaining children got home safely.  The schools adjusted their ordinary emergency-release protocols and made personal calls to parents to help facilitate the transportation of children home.