Freeway bridge collapses into Mississippi during rush hour in Minneapolis
August 1, 2007 - 6:48 pm
A bridge carrying rush hour traffic over interstate 35W in Minneapolis is shown after it collapsed. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The entire span of an interstate bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending vehicles, tonnes of concrete and twisted metal crashing into the water.
The Interstate 35W bridge, a major link between Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., 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 said.
"At this point, there is nothing to suggest that this was anything other than a structural collapse."
The U.S. 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 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 newspaper 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 the back door.
Ramon Houge told the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper 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 of Rockford, Ill., drove over the bridge shortly before the collapse. He stopped for 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 60 metres 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 20 metres above the river. Workers have been repairing the bridge's surface as part of improvements along that stretch of the interstate, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune newspaper reported on its website
