Troubled bridge over water.
BREAKING NEWS
MINNEAPOLIS - The entire span of an interstate bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending vehicles, tons of concrete and twisted metal crashing into the water.
The Interstate 35W bridge, which spans between Minneapolis and St. Paul, was under construction when it broke into several huge sections.
It was not clear how many people were injured. A burning truck and a school bus clung to one slanted slab, while at least eight cars and a truck were submerged in the river.
The bus had just crossed the bridge before it crumpled into pieces, and broadcast reports indicated the children on the bus exited out the back door.
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 Sr., Rockford, Ill., drove over the bridge shortly before the collapse. He stopped to get 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 200 feet away on top of a parking ramp with large group of people.
"I've never seen anything like this," he said.
(Ed note: This is undoubtedly going to be an important story with more information coming in all the time. Prayers and thoughts go to those dealing with this tragic situation.)
2 comments
I just wanted to say that I'm from Minneapolis and I wanted to say that right after it happened; many people jumped out of their vehicles and ran over and helped people out of their cars. So far there are only 37-40 ignored and 6 dead.
And the kids in the bus all walked away from the accident. All sixty of them.
Just wanted to post a little happy news with this horrid tragedy up here in the frozen north.
By 
, at
Wednesday, August 01, 2007 11:11:00 PM
Thanks for the great update Melyn!
By 
Qale, at
Thursday, August 02, 2007 5:11:00 PM
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