People died in that failure. both decks fell. If the cross links just below them had let go the whole span would have collapsed. It wouldn't have taken much more for that to happen.
I guess it depends upon what you call "survived."
Well I drove across it several times after they repaired it. I’d say that indicated a survival of 1989, wouldn’t you? 1989 - 2014??? Doesn’t much matter now that they just blew it up and it’s layin on the bottom of SF Bay!!!
Yes it was a tragedy but from the discussions I’ve heard about the bridge it was designed to fail as shown and not take many motorist to their deaths by falling in large pieces.