Minneapolis, 6 lane bridge collapses into MS River

[HadassahSukkot]

Check here at Fox news http://www.foxnews.com/

My dad just sent me a message about 30 minutes ago, and then my husband just asked so I went to look for news.

Apparently there have been fatalities and some serious injuries.

Eyewitness accounts (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291810,00.html) - apparently this was during late rush hour yesterday...

[HadassahSukkot]

More info here at Myway (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070802/D8QOVU200.html)

Divers checked submerged cars in the Mississippi River Thursday for a count the victims still trapped beneath the twisted steel and concrete slabs of a collapsed bridge. As many as 30 people were reported missing as the rescue effort shifted to recovery.
The official death count stood at four Thursday morning, but Police Chief Tim Dolan said more bodies were in the water. Hospital officials counted 79 others injured.
"We have a number of vehicles that are underneath big pieces of concrete, and we do know we have some people in those vehicles," Dolan said. "We know we do have more casualties at the scene."



The President has apparently made a speech (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070802/D8QOVM102.html)at a news conference concerning this.

[philmwri]

The bridge should have been fixed in 2005 when they found out that it had structure issues.

[HadassahSukkot]

I can't really make any judgement on that atm, I am rather more concerned at the aftermath and the victims atm, than the investigation..

I am not familar with the bridge or situation and just now trying to find out what happened, since I don't get much American news atm

[Charles YTK]

My daughter, who lives in North Minniapolis (Columbia Heights) takes that route to school on Wednesdays and yesterday got off one exit before the bridge. We were not able to get a hold of her last night for several hours because all the phones and cell towers were jammed. We were pretty concerned. She finally got back to us about 10:30 PM.

One report today said that the DOT had cited the bridge in 2005 for structural stress and metal cracking.

[HadassahSukkot]

Correction, it was an 8 lane highway. Here (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070802/D8QOS70O0.html)is one of the first reports, but the death count is incorrect in the preliminary write up

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said the bridge was inspected by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2005 and 2006 and that no structural problems were noted. "There were some minor things that needed attention," he said.
Police Chief Tim Dolan said officers were checking other bridges as a precaution.
The steel-arched bridge, which was built in 1967, rose about 64 feet above the river and stretched about 1,900 feet across the river. The bridge was built with a single 458-foot-long steel arch to avoid putting any piers in the water that might interfere with river navigation.




Charles, I am glad to hear your daughter is ok!

[Sephania]

I bet your mind is at ease now charles, Praise G-d!

Anyone else reminded of the movie, The Mothman Prophecies? :)

[Yehoshua]

I live in the area and go over that bridge everyday during fall and spring semesters at the U of M. I always had a weird feeling going over that bridge. The whole ordeal makes me think about life in general and about some of the things we take for granted. We rely on others for so much in our lives (government, jobs, etc) and in reality many of these things can crumble at any moment. I really worry if a major disaster were to hit the US such as a suitcase dirty bomb or natural disaster. The one positive aspect to this story is the heroic efforts of many of the bystanders who rushed to pull people from burning and/or submerged cars. Not sure if anyone else was aware of this, or if it was reported in national media, but a school bus filled with kids from a inner city youth group fell with the bridge and every single one survived. Baruch HaShem!

[Yehoshua]

Charles, Does your daughter go to the University?

[Charles YTK]

Charles, Does your daughter go to the University?
Yes. Most of her time is over at the St. Paul campus, but Wednesday she has a class there at Minniapolis. She is doing her last classes and an internship to be a teacher. My grandaughter was also going there until recently but has moved to Washington State. We visited Minniapolis St. Paul last year. It is a nice place.