A pedestrian jumped from the 4th Street overpass onto Interstate 35W Wednesday, and was killed at the scene by an oncoming semitrailer truck.

Traffic backed up for several miles at midday as first responders rushed to the scene just north of downtown Minneapolis, and troopers investigated, closing two lanes of traffic.

The person was struck in the northbound lane at 12:14 p.m., the Minnesota State Patrol confirmed. The victim's name and age were not released.

The truck driver was not injured. He was identified as Kerry D. Peterson, 58, of Baldwin, Wis. The State Patrol said Peterson was wearing a seat belt.

Two northbound traffic lanes were blocked at nearby University Avenue for more than two hours, causing traffic to back up south for several miles to the Lake Street exit.

JOY POWELL