Michelle Willard

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

LA VERGNE, Tenn. — Interstate 24 westbound in La Vergne was closed for several hours Monday for an investigation into an apparent suicide by an unidentified woman, La Vergne officials said.

Shortly before 10 a.m. Monday, the victim reportedly jumped from the Waldron Road overpass, said Rachel Heggan, spokeswoman for the city of La Vergne.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and La Vergne Police Department closed the interstate at mile marker 64 to investigate the incident. Traffic was being diverted around the exit, Heggen said.

Eastbound traffic was affected, but there were no delays. Westbound traffic had backed up five miles to Smyrna when at its worst.

The interstate was reopened around 1:30 p.m.after the investigation was completed. The investigation's report has not been released yet.

This is the second suicide in the past year from an interstate overpass in Rutherford County. In November, Harley Raffaele, 34, was found hanging from the South Church Street bridge over Interstate 24 in Murfreesboro.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).

Reach Michelle Willard at mwillard@dnj.com or 615-278-5164 and on Twitter @michwillard.