Interstate Bridge in Minneapolis collapses

cameronCRUNK · Aug 2, 2007

Copied from MSNBC

BREAKING NEWS

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 14 minutes ago

MINNEAPOLIS - The entire span of an interstate bridge suddenly broke into huge sections and collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening bumper-to-bumper traffic Wednesday, sending vehicles, tons of concrete and twisted metal crashing into the water.

Kristi Rollwagen, the deputy director of emergency preparedness for the city, said seven people had died in the incident.

Police Chief Tim Dolan said all survivors who were on the bridge are now off. "We've accounted for all the construction workers except for one," he said.

Hours after the collapse, Mayor R.T. Rybak said rescue workers had searched 50 cars.

"Obviously this is a catastrophe of historic proportions," said Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The Interstate 35W bridge, a major link between Minneapolis and St. Paul, was in the midst of being repaired when it collapsed. Repairs involved guard rail replacement on the joints and concrete work, Pawlenty said.

"There were two lanes of traffic, bumper to bumper, at the point of the collapse. Those cars did go into the river," said Minneapolis Police Lt. Amelia Huffman. "At this point there is nothing to suggest that this was anything other than a structural collapse."

At least 58 individuals â€” 10 of them children â€” were injured, said officials from the Red Cross and the Hennepin County Medical Center. Six individuals being treated were in critical condition, Dr. Joseph Clinton said.

NBC News reported that every Minneapolis ambulance had been requested to the scene.

A freight train was passing under the bridge when it collapsed and was cut in two, WCCO television reported.

Police set up flood lights so rescue officials can work throughout the night.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation told local media that 200,000 cars a day use the bridge.

The bridge, built in 1967, was last inspected in 2006 and had no major structural defects or deficits, Pawlenty said. "We were told the deck would have to be replaced in 2020."

'It shook the ground'

A burning truck and a school bus clung to one slanted slab after the collapse.

The school bus reportedly had just crossed the bridge before the bridge crumpled into pieces, and local broadcast reports indicated the children, none of whom were injured, exited out the back door of the bus.

Ritha Boyle, 22, who said she lives about 200 yards from the bridge, witnessed the collapse.

"At first I just heard a big bang and I thought it was thunderstorms," Boyle told MSNBC.com. "Then I looked outside I noticed there was dust coming up from the bridge, and then I saw it go down and hit a train. I saw some cars trying to hit their brakes and stuff like that, and a whole bunch of cars went down."

Ramon Houge of St. Paul was on his way home from work at Wells Fargo and was driving on the bridge when heard a rumbling noise, saw the ground collapse and cars go down, StarTribune.com reported.

â€œIt didnâ€™t seem like it was real,â€ he said. Traffic was bumper to bumper, he told the Star Tribune, adding that he saw kids on a bus with blood on their faces.

Sarah Fahnhorst, who lives in an apartment a block away from the bridge, heard a huge thud and then â€œthe entire building shook. It shook the ground,â€ she told the Star Tribune.

Official: No indication of terrorism

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said there is no reason to think that terrorism was involved in the collapse, NBC News' Pete Williams reported.

"We continue to monitor the situation. At this time, there's no indication of a nexus to terrorism," department spokesman Russ Knocke said in Washington.

StarTribune.com reported that many vehicles were trying to get to the 7:10 p.m. CT Twins game at the nearby Metrodome. Wednesday's game was continuing.

The team postponed Thursday afternoon's game against the Kansas City Royals in response to the incident.

The Minnesota Ballpark Authority also postponed a groundbreaking ceremony for a new stadium that was scheduled for Thursday evening.

Click to expand...

pandahorde · Aug 2, 2007

i watch this breaking news.its on CNN and Fox news..
geez i think more than 5 died. and cars on river 50+ maybe..

palepink · Aug 2, 2007

OMG how could the bridge have collapsed?!?! That's terrible

(Voldemort did it.... Sorry, I couldn't help it.)

kittymeow · Aug 2, 2007

I heard about the news from my mom. She told me my grandma is worried becuase my uncle was coming to over from the bridge and wehaven't heard from it. It was probably faulty and it is sad that people have died.

juggz · Aug 2, 2007

Its really bad too because they couldn't search for the missing people because it was too dangerous. I'm sure there were a few casualties.

twinkies · Aug 2, 2007

I just heard about it on the news geez, I thought they did regular inspections on bridges; I'd think weakness in the bridge would've been seen

Rice · Aug 3, 2007

looks pretty bad
it said on the british news that the military is going to lower the water by 2 feet so the divers can go in.

patching · Aug 3, 2007

Bad news to hear.. a trategic news!

stevop1991 · Aug 5, 2007

They should have known it was time to resuport or replace it...

turato · Aug 6, 2007

lol yeah i heard about that, it was on the news like everyday here

xcoasterx · Aug 6, 2007

I heard, that. I've driven over it before when I was in minnesota.

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Interstate Bridge in Minneapolis collapses

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