Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

I-5 bridge collapses over Skagit River, sending vehicles, people into water
http://q13fox.com/2013/05/23/breaking-i-5-bridge-collapses-over-skagit-river-vehicles-people-in-water/ ^ | Q13

Posted on 05/24/2013 12:18:57 AM PDT by djf

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — A portion of an Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River, about 60 miles north of Seattle, collapsed Thursday, sending three vehicles and people plunging into the cold water at least 50 feet below.

Amazingly, there were no fatalities, Skagit County authorities said. Three people were pulled from the river and taken to Skagit Valley Hospital and United General Hospital; two were reported to be in stable condition, the other had minor injuries and was being released Thursday night.

The survivor who was released was identified as Dan Sligh, 47. His wife, Sally Sligh, 56, remained in the hospital. The other injured person was reported to be a 20-year-old man.

Both the northbround and southbound lanes of the northern section of the bridge collapsed at about 7 p.m.

This section of I-5 runs between the Washington cities of Burlington and Mount Vernon.

When rescuers arrived, people were sitting on top of their submerged cars. The water is about 18 feet deep where the bridge collapse took place.

Gov. Jay Inslee headed to the scene to monitor the rescue efforts, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it was monitoring the situation as well.

Inslee later told a news conference that repairing the bridge is “job No. 1″ and that it’s unknown how long it will take to replace the bridge. I-5 is a main north-south arterial for northwestern Washington state.He said he will authorize the Transportation Department to establish detour routes to minimize impact on traffic and commerce.

“Witnesses say a truck hit the bridge and caused it to collapse, but an investigation has been launched to confirm that,” Inslee said. “Any witnesses or people with information should contact the State Patrol.

“The National Transportation Safety Board is on their way tomorrow, and I’ve been in touch with our federal partners. We will be involved in a vigorous and diligent effort to get traffic flowing again through the Skagit bridge corridor and I will issue an emergency proclamation tomorrow to make sure we have the resources to do so as quickly as possible,” Inslee said.

Goskagit.com said one driver who had just crossed the bridge shortly before it collapsed told a reporter he felt a vibration and looked in his rear view mirror to see that the section of bridge he had just crossed was no longer behind him.

“I thought something was wrong with my car at first,” the man told the reporter about feeling the vibration.

The bridge was built in 1955, was inspected last November and it received passing grades, Treece said.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: bridge; burlington; collapses; dansligh; ending; i5; interstate5; mountvernon; people; river; sallysligh; skagit; skagitriver; sourcetitlenoturl; vehicles; washington; water
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-170 next last
To: Secret Agent Man

The trolls are already out on the message boards doing exactly that.


41 posted on 05/24/2013 2:23:12 AM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: djf
The people are lucky the bridge deck held their cars up. The media never ceases to stretch the facts. Take Moore Oklahoma by sunset the day of the storm they were all reporting 51 “confirmed” fatalities. Next morning that rose briefly to 91. Then quickly dropped to 24. Zero would have been much better. Media
42 posted on 05/24/2013 2:27:56 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (I voted Republican, no Conservative was on the ballot. 969 yall.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: tinamina
"...Glad no one was killed but traffic is gonna be hell around here for 3 years I betcha..."

That steel bridge looks like an easy repair—it would be easy using WWII technology...

43 posted on 05/24/2013 2:55:16 AM PDT by Does so (Progressives Don't Know the Meaning of INFRINGED...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: djf

Where are all the lawyers? Who can I sue? What about my injuries? Who will pay for my car repairs? Perhaps if more dollars weren’t diverted to welfare, infrastructure wouldn’t collapse.


44 posted on 05/24/2013 2:58:30 AM PDT by Artie (We are surrounded by MORONS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: djf

Do bridges collapse often in the US?.


45 posted on 05/24/2013 2:58:45 AM PDT by the scotsman (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

I’m assuming that they will blame:

Bush
Republican congress
Sequester

before morning coffee is cold


46 posted on 05/24/2013 3:01:19 AM PDT by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: F15Eagle

with seat belts on and an open window to escape out of is my guess!


47 posted on 05/24/2013 3:08:00 AM PDT by RaceBannon (Telling the truth about RINOS, PAULTARDS, Liberals and Muslims has become hate speech)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

If it’s an Interstate Bridge, then it isn’t a State highway.

It’s Obama’s fault.


48 posted on 05/24/2013 3:12:11 AM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

Comment #49 Removed by Moderator

To: djf

Washington state - home of my favorite bridge collapse of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xox9BVSu7Ok


50 posted on 05/24/2013 3:16:03 AM PDT by OrangeHoof (Our economy won't heal until one particular black man is unemployed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the scotsman

Not often, but the bike paths are well groomed with the tax dollars that are supposed to be for roads and bridges...


51 posted on 05/24/2013 3:16:04 AM PDT by Son House (The Heath Care Recovery Never Gets Here, Like The Economic Recovery, Easily Predictable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: djf

Sign found on local wall: Mothman Was Here.


52 posted on 05/24/2013 3:19:59 AM PDT by Jack Hammer (American)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: djf

53 posted on 05/24/2013 3:22:02 AM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: F15Eagle

Maintenance and jurisdiction over the interstate highway system has been turned over to the states.

That’s why New York can charge a toll on the NYS thruway, which is, IIRC, part of I-90


54 posted on 05/24/2013 3:23:24 AM PDT by djf (Rich widows: My Bitcoin address is... 1ETDmR4GDjwmc9rUEQnfB1gAnk6WLmd3n6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: djf

This is what happens when you skim 30% off highway funds before spending the rest on bike trails, rain gardens, and public transportation.


55 posted on 05/24/2013 3:24:47 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: djf

What a coinky-dink...a bridge on the NYS Thruway (I-90) collapsed back in 1987; killing 10 people.


56 posted on 05/24/2013 3:27:28 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Tony in Hawaii
Ike was actually inspired by Japanese Emperor Taishō---after World War I, while planning for a theoretical defense against a Japanese invasion, the future Allied Supreme Commander tried to lead an Army convoy from Washington, DC to the West Coast to see how long it would take to respond if Imperial troops ever landed in California.

Ike didn't get very far. The convoy got stuck in the mud in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and from that day forward, Ike began thinking about building better highways to connect east and west coasts for defense purposes.

So, it's the Japanese's fault.

57 posted on 05/24/2013 3:36:00 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: djf

Three trillion-with-a-t in stimulus and absolutely nothing to show for it but debt and rusting bridges.


58 posted on 05/24/2013 3:37:32 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Doing the same thing and expecting different results is called software engineering.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

I think both experiences formed Ike’s outlook. The U.S. Army was very grateful for the autobahn (and the Ludendorff Brücke, which was expressly built for the defense of the Reich).


59 posted on 05/24/2013 3:41:12 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Doing the same thing and expecting different results is called software engineering.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

I thought the Stimulus Bill was supposed to have fixed these infrastructure “shovel ready” projects. Just where did all that money go again?


60 posted on 05/24/2013 3:45:27 AM PDT by mazda77
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-170 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson