Minneapolis bridge collapses

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/minnesota_bridge_collapse;_ylt=Ah_ErWNAQcoMAQ9PbybpQc.s0NUE

By PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press Writer 13 minutes ago

MINNEAPOLIS - The entire span of an interstate bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending vehicles, tons of concrete and twisted metal crashing into the water.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Interstate 35W bridge, a major link between Minneapolis and St. Paul, was in the midst of being repaired when it broke into several huge sections.

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

The Homeland Security Department had received no indications Wednesday night that the collapse was related to an act of terrorism, department spokesman Russ Knocke said in Washington.

"At this time, there's no indication of a nexus to terrorism," Knocke said.

It was not clear how many people were injured. WCCO-AM reported that one body was seen being pulled from the area, covered with a blue sheet.

An estimated 50 vehicles plunged into the water and onto the land below, the Star-Tribune reported.

A burning truck and a school bus clung to one slanted slab,

The bus had just crossed the bridge before it crumpled into pieces, and broadcast reports indicated the children on the bus exited out the back door.

Ramon Houge told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he was on his way home from work on the bridge when he heard a rumbling noise, saw the ground collapse and cars go down.

Traffic was bumper to bumper and hundreds of people would have been involved, he said. He said cars backed up as best they could and he parked in a construction zone and was finally able to turn around and drive off the bridge. "It didn't seem like it was real," he said.

Dozens of vehicles were scattered and stacked on top of each other amid the rubble. Some people were stranded on parts of the bridge that aren't completely in the water.

Local television stations captured video of injured people being carried up the riverbank. There was no official word on injuries, but dozens of rescue vehicles were there. Divers were also in the water.

Gregory Wernick Sr., Rockford, Ill., drove over the bridge shortly before the collapse. He stopped to get a drink nearby and heard commotion so he went back.

"I figure I crossed about 10 minutes before it happened," he said. "That's just too close to call."

He was standing about 200 feet away on top of a parking ramp with large group of people.

"I've never seen anything like this," he said.

The arched bridge, which was built in 1967, rises about 64 feet above the river. Workers have been repairing the 40-year-old bridge's surface as part of improvements along that stretch of the interstate, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported on its Web site.

Click to read more...

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

just like that bridge in tampa

 

[tEh koRnDog 5,000+ posts]

Fricken awesome footage of it too.
Last report I heard was 8 dead/flat.

That drop would have been a rush.

your a fvcking douchebag.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Just watched it on the news.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

just like that bridge in tampa

was just about to say that.. the old skyway bridge collapsed in Tampa in the last 80's /early 90's killing dozens of people including a whole school bus of kids. It was a much bigger bridge than this one. Hopefully there will be a minimal # of deaths in this one.

It still is creepy driving on the new skyway bridge seeing the old collapsed ends still there.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Mark my words, the next 2 weeks of news will be focused on the poor conditions of bridges across the US. They have published reports over the past decade talking about the majority of bridges are at risk or severe risk for upcoming failure.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

damm that is fuuked up....

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

surveillance photage of the incident from a helicopter that was catching speeders over the bridge (it was a work zone):

 

[Thieroff 10+ year member]

wow, unbelieveable

CT

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

You know that famous pic of the car hanging off the sunshine skyway? my uncle's bro was in the car behind that one. freaky.

 

[Qbenjamin 10+ year member]

Can't imagine what it would be like to get a call telling me that my wife was dead due to a bridge collasping. That's one of those videos that hit close to home. The bridge here near Pensacola collasped in several places during hurricane IVAN. I never wanna go through that again.