A 25-year-old white female jumped to her death from a freeway overpass on Highway 99 on Friday, prompting the California Highway Patrol to shut down one lane of traffic for at least an hour.

The woman was identified as Amber Stetson, 25, of Atwater.

Merced County Sheriff''s Department spokesperson Tom MacKenzie said Stetson walked to the edge of the Shanks Road overpass around 1 p.m. and jumped. MacKenzie said she was struck by several cars.

MacKenzie said investigators don''t know now why Stetson decided to take her own life. Traffic was opened on the freeway by about 2:30 p.m.

Anyone with information about this incident can call the Merced County Sheriff''s Department at (209) 385-7445.