Tragedy In The Twin Cities

At Least 4 Dead, Over 60 Hurt, As Bridge Linking Minneapolis And St. Paul Collapses Into Mississippi River

(CBS/AP)  One of the Twin Cities' major bridges suddenly turned into a scene of horror Wednesday evening, making a strange noise, breaking into huge sections of concrete and twisted metal and sending a thick cloud of dust into the air as it collapsed into the Mississippi River.

Authorities say dozens of cars were pitched into the water below, at least four people were killed, and over 60 others were injured, some critically.

The confirmed death toll was previously listed at seven, though Minneapolis Fire Chief Jim Clack said the death toll could rise. "We think there are several more vehicles in the river we can't see yet," said Clack.

Rescuers, however, have given up hope of finding any more survivors.

"At this point it is a recovery effort," said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, said early Thursday after rescue attempts were abandoned for the night because of the dangers of the operation.

Friends and relatives of the unaccounted have gone from hospital to
hospital trying to find out information and hoping to get good
news, CBS' The Early Show correspondent Tracy Smith reported.

Some are waiting for news in a crisis center set up at a nearby hotel. "I've never wanted to see my brother so much in my life," said one woman, as she waited for word at the Holiday Inn. "I'm overwhelmed with not knowing. I want to see my brother, and my son wants to see his uncle."

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, which links Minneapolis and St. Paul, was in the midst of repair work and had several lanes closed at the time of the 6:05 p.m. collapse.

"I knew right away it was going down," survivor Bernie Toivonen told The Early Show.

"I was so lucky. I didn't get hurt," he said.

CBS station WCCO-TV reported the maintenance project began about nine months ago to repair potholes and other concrete on the bridge. Both a city spokesperson and the main contractor for the repair job say it was not structural in nature.

Tom Sloan of Progressive Contractors says 18 of their workers were on the bridge when it came down, and one is still missing. "They basically rode the bridge down to the water. They were sliding into cars and cars were sliding into them," says Sloan.

The arched bridge, built in 1967, was about 64 feet above the river. WCCO reported the span is noted for the design feature of having been built with a single 458 foot long steel arch, avoiding the use of piers in the water which could impede river navigation.

"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."

Homeland Security Department spokesman Russ Knocke also said the collapse does not appear to be terrorism-related.

Dozens of vehicles were scattered and stacked on top of each other amid the rubble. Local television stations showed video of injured people being carried up the riverbank. Dozens of rescue vehicles were at the scene, including boats in the water. Emergency workers climbed down the shattered roadway to reach stranded motorists and divers searched the river.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation team has been dispatched to Minneapolis.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says the bridge was inspected by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2005 and 2006 and no immediate structural problems were noted.

"There were some minor things that needed attention," Pawlenty told reporters at a Wednesday night news conference. "They notified us from an engineering standpoint the deck might need to be rehabilitated or replaced in 2020 or beyond."

Jamie Winegar of Houston said she was sitting in traffic when all of a sudden she started hearing "boom, boom, boom and we were just dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping."

The car she was riding in landed on top of a smaller car but did not fall into the water. She said her nephew yelled "'It's an earthquake! and then we realized the bridge was collapsing."

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 indicate the children on the bus exited out the back door.

CBS News correspondent Drew Levinson reported some of the children were injured.

Christine Swift's 10-year-old daughter, Kaleigh, was among those on the bus, which was returning from a field trip. She said her daughter called her about 6:10 p.m.

"She was screaming 'The bridge collapsed!'" said Swift.

[ringading3]

I trust our politicians to make sure our bridges are safe.

[gramto7]

What in the hell is going on in our country? Overpasses collapsing daily!?!? Does this seem to be a bit too coincidental to anyone besides me?

[truthspeake2]

My fellow Americans, can we now start the debate regarding the funding and repairing of OUR own infrastructure as opposed to funding a senseless war and sending our enemies/allies weapons???

[hayesc1-2009]

Bridges collapsing daily? Politicians are supposed to make the bridges safe.

This is what is wrong with the country. Severely deluded people who believe nothing should ever go wrong because this is America.

Politicians don't build bridges. Bridges don't collapse daily.

[pdsi]

Rather than spending $1bn per week on Iraq, we have to invest in the infrastructure in our country.

[ringading3]

This is the State that elected Jesse Ventura as their Governator. I wonder about maintance during those years??

[thisandthat1]

Ringading ...... it doesn't have anything to do with Jessie Ventura! Truthspeake hit it on the head. The governement has taken more and more of our taxes each year and it goes into a black hole .... funding more and more BS "programs" and bureaucracy, and yes, the war. All this while our infrastructure slowly crumbles. The surprising thing to me is how we don't see something like this happening about once a week!

[mediabrat60]

Posted by RingADing3

Shouldn't your name be "dingaling"....LOL

[racerpat]

YOU PEOPLE THAT HAVE SENT YOUR COMMENTS SHOULD RELIZE THAT FREAK ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CRISES SINCE 9-11 I LOST FAMILY IN 9-11 AND I FEEL OUR NATION WE LIVE IN IS BETTER PROTECTED NOW THAN EVER BEFORE. AS SOON AS THET CAN FINISH RESCUE OPERATIONS AND START INVESTIGATIONS THEY WILL PROBABLY FIND SOMETHING LOGICAL. NO ONE SHOULD JUMP TO THE FACT IT WAS TERRIOST ATTACK.

[mnman3]

People are injured, dead and dying. This is not a 'political moment.' This bridge is between the Metrodome and the University. My mom, grandmother and greatgrandmother grew up just blocks from there. I used to live nearby and was an EMT. Stop and say a prayer for the people and their rescuers. Still finding survivors.

This is only major north way out of Minneapolis and was being repaired. Couple lanes each way bumper to bumper when it collaped at 6:05pm CDT. 20-30 construction workers on the bridge at the time.

[scorpio59er]

America's infrastructure is crumbling while Bush and his cronies spend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars on the worthless war in Iraq.

[fromthearea2]

As someone from the area, I can tell you what the local news stations are saying. They're saying that there's no reason to believe that it's related to terrorism or anything like that. And as far as taking money out of Iraq to fix stuff like the roads, the bridge was under construction at the moment, and probably had a lot to do with it's collapse.

[thisandthat1]

The bridge was NOT under construction. They had recently been doing some surface work as they do this time of year on lots of bridges (patch work). But state officals have already said there was NO structural work going on and no work had been done under the deck of the bridge. The Minneapolis stations have live feeds.

[prinzowhales]

It would be nice to know when the bridge was built, who built it, when it was last inspected and precisely what it was those construction workers were doing.

[scarletphd]

YOU PEOPLE THAT HAVE SENT YOUR COMMENTS SHOULD RELIZE THAT FREAK ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CRISES SINCE 9-11
Posted by racerpat

News flash dumass, 9-11 wasn't a freak accident. Idiot.

[mnman3]

The kids (8-12 yr olds) got off the school bus safely. Some kids were hurt but no serious injuries reported.

Three hospitals within 3 miles of site. On the south side, Hennepin County is a major trauma hospital. Fairview Riverside is a teaching hospital. On the north side, University of Minnesota Hospital is close.

Department of Homeland Security is on the scene, but there is still no suspicion of sabotage.

All Mpls EMS people called in to work. St. Paul and Suburbs are sending in crews. Thunderstorms on the way in.

[mnman3]

The bridge was built in 1967. It is a span bridge (no piers in the water; supports are on shore). This keeps the water clear for barge traffic. Work was routine maintenance; no major construction.

[radiob-2009]

First and foremost our thoughts should be with the injured and their families. Wishing all of them well.

[prinzowhales]

Much of the stress on our highway infrastructure is caused by the increase in the allowable loads for trucks. Often you see these behemoths with signs on the back bragging about the amount of highway taxes are paid on the rig--it is not nearly enough to compensate for the damage done.

If America is seriouis about rebuilding its infrastructure, it should first re-think it in terms of efficiency, particularly with regard to energy usage.

[nothappyatall]

Rather than spending $1bn per week on Iraq, we have to invest in the infrastructure in our country.
Posted by fpsrv1

Blame the right wingers for putting the BUSH regime into power not once but TWICE, and this is the result of 4 years of spend spend spend spend- on IRAQ.

$3.50 a gallon gas and all those gas taxes going WHERE? it sure as hel1 isn't going to roads and highways like it's SUPPOSED to.

[tnt1954]

life is a series of crises. want food? grow it yourself. it may not get shipped anymore.
of course, the aladdin device is here now.
something from nothing for nothin. just
press a button and everything is taken care of.
in a nanosecond. live your life and die
again and again in a giant re-run. if you
don't understand, just go on to the next
question on the test. the story of the
little red hen. mother hen crushed her eggs
when she sat on them too long.

[scarletphd]

(AP) A highway bridge under construction collapsed Tuesday in OROVILLE, Calif., trapping a delivery truck under the debris and injuring a construction worker.

(AP) An overpass near Montreal collapsed Saturday, crushing two cars whose occupants were feared dead, authorities said. At least five people were injured. Drivers on Highway 19 slammed on their brakes and watched in horror as the overpass slowly collapsed, sending cars plunging and crushing at least two vehicles.

(CBS/AP) Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly said Tuesday he is treating the concrete collapse in a Big Dig tunnel that killed a motorist as a crime scene that could lead to charges of negligent homicide. Gov. Mitt Romney said Tuesday he is taking legal action to oust the head of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority after a woman was crushed to death by falling cement in a Boston Big Dig tunnel.

(AP)an underground steam pipe exploded in midtown New York City, Wednesday, July 18, 2007. A titanic geyser of scalding vapor and earth erupted from a Manhattan street near Grand Central Terminal, sending people running for cover as debris rained down on the street.


But HEY, let's by all means focus on Iraq....

[ringading3]

"scorpio59er" toooo dumb for me to explain.

[mnman3]

One confirmed dead so far. More are expected.

Local CBS Affiliate in Minneapolis is

www.wccotv.com

They have live feed.

[tnt1954]

be prepared, boy scout motto. expect the
unexpected. fidelity, bravery, integrity
motto of the f.b.i. kgb has a motto too.
all the secret services of the world do.
my motto: no news is good news, but there
is always plenty of news. hey ma, is
it news or noose? noose or neese or niece?

[scarletphd]

MNMan3 - shut the he11 up, 3 are confirmed dead...just go watch the news like the rest of us are, we can hear just fine. Jesus you're annoying.

So let's talk about something was less serious, and FAR more important like:

(AP) Britney Spears threw a baby bottle and threatened two photographers after they took pictures of her leaving a Las Vegas spa, the photographers said in a statement Tuesday.

Spears yelled "I am going to kill you!" and cursed at Andrew Deetz, a photographer who was allegedly beaten by Spears' bodyguard on Thursday.

[scarletphd]

my motto: no news is good news, but there
is always plenty of news. hey ma, is
it news or noose? noose or neese or niece?
Posted by snidegrass

Genius on parade...

[mnman3]

Frankly Scarlett...you know the rest.

KARE 11, Mpls PD and HCMC say one dead.

[michellem99-2009]

We have been over thar bridge when on the 'hound years ago. It sad but the bridges are old. They NEED maintaining. My friend is scare of them. Can't blame him. Surely it just gave way from age.
This what I think. But now to the people who are in need and hope is found so she/he can go home to loved ones.To the postee who lost family on 9/11, We have flags in our apt that we displayed that day and never put away in their honour.

[prinzowhales]

newster1--It sure isn't, its going into the Highway Trust Fund and grudgingly given out to the States while the States are busy trying to give the roads away to private toll companies.

The Cement cartel positioned itself a couple of decades ago to profit mightily from any building binge in America, by gobbling up many smaller makers. Enjoy.

[jsnowblind15]

This is such a tragedy. My prayers are with each and every person involved. This is aweful news. This affects all of us. To all the grieving family members and victims, i send my condolences.

[yamuttya]

News flash dumass, 9-11 wasn't a freak accident. Idiot.
Posted by ScarletPhD

Dr Scar this is gratuitous, needless, silly abuse.
Doctor , heal thyself.
This tragedy is a crisis, people are dying. Reading your nonsense is a pointless distraction.
Grow up!

[yamuttya]

You GO Scarlet, you rock!
Posted by shutUPfreak

During a crisis these creeps truly display america at its worst.No respect, no humanity.
This is why the world hates america, $*** like this.
Shame on you low lifes.

[bettr2bwhite]

yamuttya is an obnoxious jealous moron who can't stand that Scarlet posts wittier words than he does.

YOU are pointless you stupid fool. You can't deal with anyone with an intelligent slam. Go fu(k yourself you weakling, you freak.

[jetranger7]

"CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE", Thats what we have here in the US, an old ancient Infracture from the 1940s &1950s. But we can't afford to repair any of it, Because, we've "Mis-Spent" Billions in Iraq, and most of that can not be accounted for, and that place is still in a mess !! Soon All the Bridges will begin collapsing, Tunnels caving in, We need and should be spending money on our Graet Infrascture, instead of worring about ol' Iraq, but we'll spend Billions to rebuild their country while we watch ours collapse ! Then they'll want to tax us even more, instead of using the money they should of spent here, they blew it on IRAQ !!!

[radiob-2009]

People seem to forget or are only interested in their point of view being expressed is that lives were lost and lives were injured in this tragedy.Someone commented about the weight of tractor trailers being the fault of this that the weight had increased.It has not increased the maximiums weights for containers, trailers and tankers are the same. No one knows quite yet what caused the bridge to collapse and until that is determined no one can comment on the cause. Perhaps maintenance was not done, perhaps inspections were signed off but not inspected, perhaps etc.

[itsnotaboutu]

(AP) A highway bridge under construction collapsed Tuesday in OROVILLE, Calif., trapping a delivery truck under the debris and injuring a construction worker.

(AP) An overpass near Montreal collapsed Saturday, crushing two cars whose occupants were feared dead, authorities said. At least five people were injured. Drivers on Highway 19 slammed on their brakes and watched in horror as the overpass slowly collapsed, sending cars plunging and crushing at least two vehicles.

(CBS/AP) Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly said Tuesday he is treating the concrete collapse in a Big Dig tunnel that killed a motorist as a crime scene that could lead to charges of negligent homicide. Gov. Mitt Romney said Tuesday he is taking legal action to oust the head of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority after a woman was crushed to death by falling cement in a Boston Big Dig tunnel.

(AP) An underground steam pipe exploded in midtown New York City, Wednesday, July 18, 2007. A titanic geyser of scalding vapor and earth erupted from a Manhattan street near Grand Central Terminal, sending people running for cover as debris rained down on the street.

But HEY, let's by all means focus on Iraq issues...
Posted by ScarletPhD


BEST POINT MADE ALL NIGHT Scarlet...I know you have already moved on and these zitpopping losers are still in here scratching their balls...

[missingamerica]

I'm given to understand that Secretary of the Treasury's Paulson's "old" company, Goldman Sachs, in interested in getting a cut from the process of privatizing America's highway infrastructure.

I personally think it is a horrid idea - I can just imagine poorer people having to pay a toll to go to the grocery store to buy their kids macaroni and hot dogs - but I don't doubt for a minute that somebody somewhere will use this tragedy to add impetus to the idea.

[superlezbo]

Dr Scar this is gratuitous, needless, silly abuse.
Doctor , heal thyself.
This tragedy is a crisis, people are dying. Reading your nonsense is a pointless distraction.
Grow up!
Posted by yamuttya


Who died and made you the biggest a$$hole on the CBS post site??

Go to he11 dude, go home to mommy if you don't like it.

[jetranger7]

The Interstate Hi-Way System, designed by Eisenhower in the 50s, was actually designed with the thought in mind to be able to Transport large types of Military Equipment up to 100,000Lbs, in the event one of our coastlines was attacked, the ability to transport heavy equipment fast and efficently is what it was designed for ! Its just old, and the weather and the chemicals we put on roads in the Winter doesn't help the steel structures either, Salt and Metal don't Mix well over long periods of time, it'll rust in two, like our early 70s &80s cars did, back in the day !

[yamuttya]

Nazi s(um.
You are the reason the world hates america.
You personify the lowest of the low.
You drunken teenagers are a pathetic joke on this site.
People dying and you talk hate.
What a bunch of worthless losers you are.
LOL

[hooterlover2]

Once upon a time George Bush started an illegal war to make sure his family's interest in oil grubbing was protected, so he spent billions of dollars and sent over 3,000 brilliant young amaericans to their deaths fighting a psycotic culture to steal their oil, which will never be won, and practically no money was left for the citizens of the United States and their infrastructure...including bridges.

any QUESTIONS class?

[dirtydog55]

This is the State that elected Jesse Ventura as their Governator. I wonder about maintance during those years??
Posted by RingADing3 at 08:28 PM : Aug 01, 2007

There you go, surmising again. Just keep wondering.

This bridge was recently inspected. In addition, pile driving was going on in the area. Pile driving sets up vibrations; vibrations can set up oscillations and bring down the sturdiest of structures.

[mitywhity]

Privatize, improvise and realize that the pockets of Uncle Sam are financed by the backs of his little nephews. I think the idea of the actual travellers of a road paying for it's construction and upkeep is far and away the best solution to the NTSB's woes. We can't "welfare" every single item in the country. Sorry about the poor folks who have to pay 50 cents to cruise down the road. He's already paid more than that in gasoline tax to Uncle Sam PER GALLON! It's actually closer to 70 cents per gallon of TAX!!! Build the toll roads now! Why are we more comfortable paying hidden, imbedded taxes and so opposed to paying fees that are cheaper than the taxes? I don't get it.

[hypnotoad72]

People, get a *** grip. The bridge was under reconstruction, it's been unrelentingly hot and humid, add in rush hour traffic and all those factors combined are the cause.

There are no terrorists shouting "Boo!", there is no conspiracy by Bush or anybody else, it's just a tragedy. So please shut up regarding the pathetic cynicism.

If anything, someone who got the bid to do the repair work on the bridge is at fault. Lowest bid contracts. You get what you pay for.

But as some politicians say, they want to run government like a business. Is this an example of what will happen in the future if we continue with low-bid contracts, pocking profits, and other things businesses have been found to do? (How's that for cynicism too?)

[tbweb]

CNN reported Minneapolis received reports from Inspectors the Bridges structure was starting to crack. The Inspectors did their job, looks like someone else didn't do theirs! Based on this report this catastrophe could have been avoided, heads should roll.

[hypnotoad72]

This bridge was recently inspected. In addition, pile driving was going on in the area. Pile driving sets up vibrations; vibrations can set up oscillations and bring down the sturdiest of structures.

Posted by dirtydog55 at 10:16 PM : Aug 01, 2007
-------------------------------

THANK YOU for posting that. It really was an accident, and nothing more. Even I went somewhat overboard in my comments. But some responses around here really redefine cuckoo...

[dirtydog55]

It would be nice to know when the bridge was built, who built it, when it was last inspected and precisely what it was those construction workers were doing.
Posted by Prinzowhales at 09:03 PM : Aug 01, 2007


You'll find some answers on Google Earth and Wikipedia.

[yamuttya]

...FREAK!!!!!!


Posted by HooterLover2

You silly pathetic drunken teenager, isnt it past your bedtime?
( PS try to make some sense next time, fool )
The world hates america because of low life morons like you.
LOL

[fukgorgbush]

HEY MNMan3 - 6 people confirmed dead, but that's just silly ole CNN...maybe YOU have a better more up to date super secret squirrel source for information for us huh??