News & Politics - Minneapolis Bridge Collapses

SoLongSelf · 08-01-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Major Minneapolis Bridge Collapses Over Mississippi River

MINNEAPOLIS — The I-35W highway bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed during rush hour Wednesday, sending many cars and motorists into the water.

Authorities tell Fox News that there are between 20- 30 people in the river while witnesses told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that at least 20 cars may have been involved.

Tons of concrete have collapsed and survivors are being carried up the riverbank. Both the northbound and southbound lanes of 35W are lying in the Mississippi River, according to WCCO-com.

There are multiple cars still in the river and a couple cars on fire. According to one witness, there was a school bus full of children on the bridge, according to reports.

The bridge near University Avenue connects downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota.

The entire span of the 35W bridge collapsed about 6:05 p.m. where the freeway crosses the river near University Avenue.

Some people are stranded on parts of the bridge that aren't completely in the water.

A tractor-trailer is on fire at the collapse scene.

Star-tribune.com reported that workers have been improving the 40-year-old bridge’s surface as part of repairs to that part of the interstate.

News updates are coming in as I type.

My heart goes out to the city of Minneapolis and those affected by this tragedy.

FoxNews

ETA: Fox is now reporting at least 3 dead.

***BLONDIE*** · 08-01-2007, 05:27 PM

This just happened aout an hour ago...

A four-lane interstate bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed Wednesday during evening rush hour in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sending vehicles crashing into the water. Local television stations captured video of injured people being carried up the riverbank. full story..

Link Here.. Link Here

All the major news networks are covering it right now. My stomach just turned into knots watching this. We have a huge bridge here that you have to cross to get to the other side of town and I hate it, but after this, I hate it even more. I feel horrible for those people and familes.

**Mio** · 08-01-2007, 06:27 PM

That is scary stuff. I remember crossing that bridge years ago when I was on a family vacation.

SoLongSelf · 08-01-2007, 06:34 PM

I cant imagine being on that bridge and then all of the sudden feeling your car drop or all of the sudden seeing the cars/road in front of you disappear.

Apparently a school bus full of children narrowly missed either running into part of the bridge or off of it. Details kinda sketchy right now. They said some of the kids were inconsolable. Well....yeah!! I would be too!!

Maggie aka Sarah · 08-01-2007, 06:42 PM

Really really scary! And very tragic.

Here's another article:

Major freeway bridge collapses into Mississippi

Quote:

Major freeway bridge collapses into Mississippi

Last Updated: Wednesday, August 1, 2007 | 9:26 PM ET
CBC News

An eight-lane freeway bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the Mississippi River during the evening rush hour Wednesday, plunging dozens of vehicles into the water and killing at least three people.

Hundreds of paramedics, firefighters, police divers and emergency crews from Minneapolis converged on the scene, where tonnes of concrete piled into the river, trapping cars and people.

"We're trying to work as hard as we can to pull people out of there," Kristi Rollwagen, the local deputy director emergency preparedness, told CNN about an hour after the 6:05 p.m. CT crash.

She confirmed that three bodies had so far been recovered, while an estimated 50 to 100 vehicles were believed to be submerged underwater.

Firefighters were coping with at least one fire — a tractor-trailer trapped on the collapsed bridge had erupted into flames. Witnesses said the truck was beside a school bus carrying 20 to 30 children, who escaped through the back door.
As rescue personnel worked, engineers were on scene to ensure there wasn't a secondary collapse.

Other witnesses reported seeing rescue workers carrying survivors up the riverbank.

"I've never seen anything like this," said Gregory Wernick Sr., who crossed the bridge about 10 minutes before the collapse.

The entire span of the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed where the freeway crosses the river near University Avenue in Minneapolis.

There were reports that surface repairs were being done to the bridge.

The U.S. Homeland Security Department said there is no indication the collapse was an act of terrorism.

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

Here's a link to the KMSP web page. Which has video, eye witness accounts and information about the bridge:

MyFox Twin Cities | Fox 9 News | KMSP

I am pretty sure that I have crossed over that bridge several times over the years.

Maggie

GhostWriter · 08-01-2007, 07:04 PM

I'm watching it right now and when I saw a school bus on the scene, right in front of something burning...

Sheebs · 08-01-2007, 07:05 PM

Oh my goodness. How horrible! I hope everyone is okay!!

I just received a few calls, checking to see if I was alright. I drove over this bridge about 2 hours before it collapsed. My friends who live nearby say that it is a chaotic scene. People can't get anywhere, it is so backed up. And there is a Twins baseball game at the Metrodome right now. And it is about to storm. It's just a terrible, freakish situation.

I really don't know how Minneapolis is going to function without it. It's a major highway bridge. The next few years are not going to be fun on Minneapolis roads.

I read that Minneapolis is already #2 in worst traffic in the nation, behind LA. This is not going to help matters any.

SoLongSelf · 08-01-2007, 07:13 PM

^ I'm glad to hear that you're ok!

According to FOX, the mayor has said that the death toll is now at 6.

GhostWriter · 08-01-2007, 07:37 PM

That's who I've been watching, although the reporters seem to think it's still at one. I'm hoping it's at 1 and not the supposed 6.

Maggie aka Sarah · 08-01-2007, 07:41 PM

CNN just showed the announcement from the Mayor of Minneapolis live. As per what the Mayor and the other officials said, the death toll is at 6.

Sheebs · 08-01-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoLongSelf (View Post)

^ I'm glad to hear that you're ok!

According to FOX, the mayor has said that the death toll is now at 6.

Awww thanks!

That is terrible news. My local news is reporting that 7 people have been confirmed dead, about 50 cars are missing in the water and 67 people have been reported injured, 6 critically. Some construction workers are reported missing as well.

They said over 200,000 cars used the bridge daily and that transportation officials are trying to organize alternate routes.

-Kelly- · 08-01-2007, 08:44 PM

We just heard about it over here

it's shocking, poor people

Lain · 08-01-2007, 09:10 PM

Yikes

Ironically, I was watching Seconds to Disaster on National Geographic Channel where buildings and other things suddenly collapse.

SoLongSelf · 08-01-2007, 09:44 PM

60 kids were in that school bus! About a dozen were taken to the hospital. 2 are in critical condition. The rest walked away! Talk about amazing!! Can you imagine had that bus ended up in the water?!!

I dont even wanna think about it.

Sheebs · 08-01-2007, 10:36 PM

^^ Eek. That is too scary.

I-35W bridge collapse: 9 dead, 60 injured, 20 missing


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