HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – One of the busiest stretches of Interstate 84 in Connecticut was closed Monday when an armed, suicidal motorist held police at bay for hours before surrendering.

No one was injured in the incident, but the man was taken to an area hospital for a mental evaluation, police said.

The incident started shortly after 9 a.m. when police received a report of a disabled vehicle.

Police closed both sides of the highway after the man called police on his cell phone, saying he had a gun and wanted to kill himself, state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said.

Traffic was diverted to nearby roads and highway ramps were blocked for more than three hours while SWAT officers, negotiators and other emergency crews worked at the scene, Vance said.

“Our negotiator was very successful in convincing the individual to surrender to police. He did so voluntarily and no one was injured,” Vance said later Monday. “At a later time, an appropriate time, we’ll address any violation of state law that may have occurred.”

Police say the man was a 26-year-old East Hartford resident, but did not release his name.

The Hartford Courant reported Monday that the man’s stepfather said he had complained of difficulties at work and recently was hospitalized because of stress-related problems.

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