3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis

Warpath · 08-01-2007, 09:22 PM

3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis - CNN.com

(CNN) -- At least three people were killed when an interstate bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed Wednesday evening, plunging cars and chunks of concrete into the Mississippi River below.
There were "lots" of injuries, said the state Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.
The accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. (7 p.m. ET). There were 50 to 100 cars on the bridge at the time, according to early estimates.
Lt. Amelia Huffman of the Minneapolis Police Department told CNN affiliate KARE it was "not clear at this point what caused the collapse" of the Interstate 35W bridge near University Avenue.
"We have personnel there in the rescue effort," she said. "I have never seen anything remotely like this before."
Shortly after the collapse, a tractor trailer was burning on the bridge.
Rescue workers are using boats to help remove people from the water, bringing them up on the river bank.
Aerial footage showed the middle of the bridge caved in, lying in the Mississippi River, with cars both on top and submerged in the water.
Witnesses told CNN a school bus filled with children was on the bridge when it collapsed, but they also said the bus did not drop into the water and it appeared that the children had all been evacuated.
The main part of the collapsed span is not submerged, but the span clearly separated from the land-based sections of the highway on both the north and south ends of the bridge.
Mark Lacroix, who lives on the 20th floor of an apartment building near the bridge, told CNN he saw the last seconds of the collapse.
"I heard this massive rumbling and shaking basically and looked out my window," Lacroix said. "It just fell right into the river."
He said there had been construction work on the bridge in recent weeks.
Nighttime construction took place on the bridge Tuesday night and was to take place again Wednesday night, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation,
The highway would have been restricted to a single lane in both directions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights.
http://video.ap.org/vws/search/aspx/...ridge_collapse

Riggo44 · 08-01-2007, 09:39 PM

Dam, it kind of reminds me of the 94’ Northridge earthquake. I’m surprised by the looks of it there weren’t that many deaths.

love them hogs · 08-01-2007, 09:49 PM

Wow , what a horrible story. I feel bad for all those people and their families. This is like everyones worst fear come true ,to have a bridge collapse right from underneath you.I drive across the bay bridge frequently and it still gets me a touch nervous to go across it.The article says that there had been constrution on the bridge recently.That doesnt sound good for whoever did that job.

skinsfan_nn · 08-01-2007, 10:09 PM

Darn just caught this on CNN, what a shame. When I saw that school bus, I said oh no.......GREAT to hear the children are safe.

Very aweful tragedy. Thoughts and prayers to all affected. May GOD be with them all.

Sammy Baugh Fan · 08-01-2007, 10:15 PM

Just saw too.
Oh my Lord.
My family's prayers go out.

so sad

dmek25 · 08-01-2007, 10:16 PM

god was definitely looking after most of these people. only 3 dead? what a miracle. any word on what happened?

Daseal · 08-02-2007, 02:42 AM

Very sad. I agree with Dmek, something that catastrophic happens and only three deaths is quite amazing. I hope all the injured get over their injuries.

gibbsisgod · 08-02-2007, 06:05 AM

Updates on this story are coming in fast. I read 9 dead, many, many injured. May god be with them all.

Minneapolis bridge collapses - U.S. Life - MSNBC.com

htownskinfan · 08-02-2007, 08:10 AM

I think there going to end up being a lot more people dead,I think theres probably over 50 cars undeerwater

jbcjr14 · 08-02-2007, 08:42 AM

What a tragic event. I can't imagine driving along and then BAM, the bridge falls open. My thoughts and prayers to the families.

MTK · 08-02-2007, 08:50 AM

Man, what a nightmare. My thoughts go out to the families and friends involved with this tragedy.

Sammy Baugh Fan · 08-02-2007, 02:15 PM

I had to go up I-95 today and get on the Beltway [I-495] and the new bridges are over 100' in the air over land. I was thinking about how bad a colaps would be.

Nightmare.

My heart goes out.

mredskins · 08-02-2007, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammy Baugh Fan

I had to go up I-95 today and get on the Beltway [I-495] and the new bridges are over 100' in the air over land. I was thinking about how bad a colaps would be.

Nightmare.

My heart goes out.

SBF I do the same thing! Expect in the Ft. McHenry tunnel. I am like ok I can still swim out from this point, if it breaks. Basically once you are in about 1/4 mile you are done!

firstdown · 08-02-2007, 02:59 PM

I was entering a tunnell on 9/11 just after the attacks and they where talking about the posibility of more hits to bridges and tunnells. Then the trafic comes to a sudden and complete stop as I'm sitting about 100' under water I was just thinking this might not be good. Trafic picked back up and on the way home I took the long way around.

jsarno · 08-02-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daseal

Very sad. I agree with Dmek, something that catastrophic happens and only three deaths is quite amazing. I hope all the injured get over their injuries.

I was shocked at that too...I think it's how the bridge fell. It didn't break up into peices, most of it fell at once.
I am still shocked to hear about this, and my biggest question is HOW? There are groups that cities hire to maintain bridges and constantly look at them for stress issues. Being a main bridge in Minnesota, what the hell happened? Who skrewed up on their job?

08-01-2007, 09:22 PM	#1
Warpath The Starter Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Potomac Falls, VA Age: 48 Posts: 1,762	3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis - CNN.com (CNN) -- At least three people were killed when an interstate bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed Wednesday evening, plunging cars and chunks of concrete into the Mississippi River below. There were "lots" of injuries, said the state Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department. The accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. (7 p.m. ET). There were 50 to 100 cars on the bridge at the time, according to early estimates. Lt. Amelia Huffman of the Minneapolis Police Department told CNN affiliate KARE it was "not clear at this point what caused the collapse" of the Interstate 35W bridge near University Avenue. "We have personnel there in the rescue effort," she said. "I have never seen anything remotely like this before." Shortly after the collapse, a tractor trailer was burning on the bridge. Rescue workers are using boats to help remove people from the water, bringing them up on the river bank. Aerial footage showed the middle of the bridge caved in, lying in the Mississippi River, with cars both on top and submerged in the water. Witnesses told CNN a school bus filled with children was on the bridge when it collapsed, but they also said the bus did not drop into the water and it appeared that the children had all been evacuated. The main part of the collapsed span is not submerged, but the span clearly separated from the land-based sections of the highway on both the north and south ends of the bridge. Mark Lacroix, who lives on the 20th floor of an apartment building near the bridge, told CNN he saw the last seconds of the collapse. "I heard this massive rumbling and shaking basically and looked out my window," Lacroix said. "It just fell right into the river." He said there had been construction work on the bridge in recent weeks. Nighttime construction took place on the bridge Tuesday night and was to take place again Wednesday night, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, The highway would have been restricted to a single lane in both directions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights. http://video.ap.org/vws/search/aspx/...ridge_collapse

08-01-2007, 09:39 PM	#2
Riggo44 The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Clemente CA Age: 51 Posts: 2,390	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis Dam, it kind of reminds me of the 94’ Northridge earthquake. I’m surprised by the looks of it there weren’t that many deaths. __________________ Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. Benjamin Franklin

08-01-2007, 09:49 PM	#3
love them hogs Special Teams Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Baltimore for now Age: 46 Posts: 235	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis Wow , what a horrible story. I feel bad for all those people and their families. This is like everyones worst fear come true ,to have a bridge collapse right from underneath you.I drive across the bay bridge frequently and it still gets me a touch nervous to go across it.The article says that there had been constrution on the bridge recently.That doesnt sound good for whoever did that job.

08-01-2007, 10:09 PM	#4
skinsfan_nn Playmaker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Newport News,Virginia Age: 60 Posts: 4,495	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis Darn just caught this on CNN, what a shame. When I saw that school bus, I said oh no.......GREAT to hear the children are safe. Very aweful tragedy. Thoughts and prayers to all affected. May GOD be with them all. __________________ "There's no greater feeling than moving a man from Point A to Point B, against his will." #68 THANKS COACH GIBBS FOR EVERYTHING! YOUR THE MAN AND ALWAYS WILL BE!

08-01-2007, 10:15 PM	#5
Sammy Baugh Fan Playmaker Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northern Virginia, Woodbridge Age: 63 Posts: 2,507	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis Just saw too. Oh my Lord. My family's prayers go out. so sad __________________ Check out Mike Hedrick - The Next Food Network Star. Please Click and give me a Thumbs Up and Positive Comment. Thanks

08-01-2007, 10:16 PM	#6
dmek25 MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: lancaster,pa Age: 63 Posts: 10,672	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis god was definitely looking after most of these people. only 3 dead? what a miracle. any word on what happened? __________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." courtesy of 53fan

08-02-2007, 02:42 AM	#7
Daseal Puppy Kicker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arlington, Virginia Age: 42 Posts: 8,341	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis Very sad. I agree with Dmek, something that catastrophic happens and only three deaths is quite amazing. I hope all the injured get over their injuries. __________________ Best. Player. Available.

08-02-2007, 06:05 AM	#8
gibbsisgod Playmaker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: 129 W 81st street Age: 45 Posts: 3,503	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis Updates on this story are coming in fast. I read 9 dead, many, many injured. May god be with them all. Minneapolis bridge collapses - U.S. Life - MSNBC.com

08-02-2007, 08:10 AM	#9
htownskinfan JUST LIVIN Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: houston,tx Age: 63 Posts: 4,916	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis I think there going to end up being a lot more people dead,I think theres probably over 50 cars undeerwater __________________ Make The Redskins Great Again

08-02-2007, 08:42 AM	#10
jbcjr14 The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 55 Posts: 2,015	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis What a tragic event. I can't imagine driving along and then BAM, the bridge falls open. My thoughts and prayers to the families. __________________ "Work Harder: millions on welfare are counting on you" - Obama 2009 address to Congress.

08-02-2007, 08:50 AM	#11
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,734	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis Man, what a nightmare. My thoughts go out to the families and friends involved with this tragedy. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

08-02-2007, 02:15 PM	#12
Sammy Baugh Fan Playmaker Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northern Virginia, Woodbridge Age: 63 Posts: 2,507	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis I had to go up I-95 today and get on the Beltway [I-495] and the new bridges are over 100' in the air over land. I was thinking about how bad a colaps would be. Nightmare. My heart goes out. __________________ Check out Mike Hedrick - The Next Food Network Star. Please Click and give me a Thumbs Up and Positive Comment. Thanks

08-02-2007, 02:59 PM	#14
firstdown Living Legend Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: chesapeake, va Age: 60 Posts: 15,817	Re: 3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis I was entering a tunnell on 9/11 just after the attacks and they where talking about the posibility of more hits to bridges and tunnells. Then the trafic comes to a sudden and complete stop as I'm sitting about 100' under water I was just thinking this might not be good. Trafic picked back up and on the way home I took the long way around.

3 dead as Mississippi River bridge falls amid rush hour in Minneapolis

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