Serial arson suspect jumps to his death off Houston Freeway. Man was fleeing latest of 30 fires.

A man who is suspected of being a serial arsonist responsible for as many as 30 fires in Houston jumped to his death off a highway overpass early yesterday morning when police stopped him shortly after the latest fire broke out. The man was under surveillance by fire investigators who say they spotted him walking into the apartment complex where the fire was set. While the dead man has not been officially identified, KHOU-TV says they have talked with the man's father who described his son as an Iraq War Army veteran who suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.

Here are excerpts form an article by Renee C. Lee at the Houston Chronicle:

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was identified as a suspect Monday night during surveillance conducted by fire officials in the southwest Houston area. He was driving a Chevrolet Dually truck, similar to one of the two vehicles connected to the fires, when investigators observed him scouting out a two-story apartment complex, said HFD Deputy Chief Kevin Brolan.

An investigator saw him walk through an alley near the complex and disappear, Brolan said. When the investigator went after the suspect, he saw a flash of fire, he said.

The suspect ran to his truck and sped away, leading fire officials on a chase. Investigators contacted Houston police to make an arrest. Police stopped the suspect in the 10800 block of the West Sam Houston Parkway south at U.S. 59 about 12:05 a.m. Tuesday.

Brolan said the man got out of the truck, looked over the edge of the overpass, took a few steps backward and jumped. He fell 73 feet onto a grassy median, officials said.