Bridge Collapses Into Mississippi River

AOL News ^ | August 2, 2007 | PATRICK CONDON and GREGG AAMO,AP

[libstripper]

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 2) - An interstate bridge jammed with rush-hour traffic suddenly broke into huge sections and collapsed into the Mississippi River Wednesday, pitching dozens of cars 60 feet into the water and killing at least four people.

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of being repaired and two lanes in each direction were closed when the bridge buckled. About 20 families gathered at an information center, looking for information on loved ones they couldn't locate.

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

Authorities had put the death toll at seven, but lowered it to four -- and warned the final number could change as divers search the Mississippi River.

[libstripper]

This is the most recent article about the collapse. It contains a link to a security camera video of the actual collapse.

[TommyDale]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ab_1186054443&p=1

[B.O. Plenty]

Bump

[Pablo64]

GMA has been covering it all morning. Amazing how many people came out unhurt. It certainly could have been even worse than it is.

[Coldwater Creek]

I have said for years that if terrorist wanted to stop the U.S. in their tracks, simultaneously destroy the Mississippi River bridges.

Interstate commerce would totally be destroyed and so the end of America as we know it.

[libstripper]

That’s the video. Changing the subject slightly, I suspect this must be giving the good people of Boston a bit of concern about their own “Big Dig” and the serious structural damage all the leaks are probably doing to it.

[xcamel]

So.. You don't read the "Breaking News sidebar much??

[libstripper]

I ran the search and didn’t find anything.

[rawhide]

Thanks for the video link.

[MizSterious]

This is the same subject, but with new info. Give it a rest.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Yeah. a school bus with 60 kids surviving the fall is nothing short of amazing.

[Rummyfan]

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of being repaired and two lanes in each direction were closed when the bridge buckled.

I think somebody made a big big BIG boo boo.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

“the end of America as we know it.”

!

[MizSterious]

This is not a duplicate, pay no attention to the grumbling. I, for one, loathe having to scroll through long threads--the one in the BN sidebar has almost 2,000 posts. If someone else wants to, fine, but I much prefer finding the info I want quickly. I don't have the time to read 2,000 posts (many of them chit-chat anyway) to get the pertinent information.

[YourAdHere]

I agree.

[yldstrk]

“The end of America as we know it”..........America depends on a bridge?!?!?!...........Ever hear of an air bridge? a ferry? Temporary bridge? Land sakes, honey, take it easy.

[gracesdad]

Are we a little grumpy this morning?

[Saundra Duffy]

How absolutely horrible but miraculous that more people weren’t killed or hurt.

[gracesdad]

True taking out the river bridges would pose immense challenges, but there are ways around it and it wouldn’t be the end of America.