MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 21, 2007
Last Bridge Collapse Victim Is Found
Gregory "Jolly" Jolstad, 45, Was Resurfacing The Road When It Fell Into Mississippi River
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The last body has been found and scores of vehicles have been cleared from the wreckage that was the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Paul, seen here on Aug. 16, 2007. (AP)
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The scene of the bridge collapse hours after it crumbled into the Mississippi River, killing 13 people and injuring about 100 others. (AP)
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Gregory Jolstad, whose body was recovered on Aug. 20, 2007, was one of 17 construction workers on the bridge at the time of the collapse on Aug. 1st. Above: construction vehicles among the debris, Aug. 9, 2007. (AP)
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Photo Essay In The Aftermath Following the rush hour collapse of a bridge in Minnesota, rescue efforts, investigations and mourning.
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Who's Who Those Who Are Mourned The bodies of nine of the dead in the Minneapolis bridge collapse have been recovered and identified.
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In The Spotlight Interstate 35W Bridge Take a closer look at the makeup of the bridge and its breaking point.
Monday's recovery of the body of Gregory Jolstad brings the official casualty toll to 13 dead and about 100 injured.
Jolstad, nicknamed "Jolly," was on the construction crew that was resurfacing the bridge when it fell Aug. 1st during the evening rush hour. Jolstad, 45, was driving a skid loader, commonly known by the brand name Bobcat.
Divers had gone back in the water early Monday, and Jolstad's wife, Lisa Jolstad, said officials had vowed to continue until they found her husband.
Greg Jolstad was one of 18 construction workers on the bridge working for Progressive Contractors Inc. The other 17 survived the collapse, riding down the wreckage along with the tangle of vehicles and other debris. Seven of the bridge workers were hurt, but none were critically injured.
The recovery of the bodies from the bridge collapse was a slow and often dangerous job, complicated by bad weather, huge chunks of concrete and the murky waters of the Mississippi.
The human face of the tragedy has dominated the headlines – along with questions about why it happened, with inspections now going on around the nation of hundreds of bridges with similar designs.
The lost bridge was, however, a critical part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul infrastructure and officials have already taken the first steps towards replacing the span.
Minnesota Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lucy Kender announced on Aug. 13th that a preliminary design has been chosen for a replacement, a proposed 10-lane bridge.
Officials are hoping to have the new structure completed by the end of 2008.
As divers checked the river for bodies, cranes were removing vehicles. About 100 were on the structure when it fell.
Heavy equipment is also on site to remove debris from the river.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- well madisongirl, you have shown what it is like to be an idiot!
- Reply to this comment
- THIS IS ALL BUSH''s FAULT.
****only kidding****
Just wanted to see what it was like to be a liberal idiot.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo - Reply to this comment
- jonw1115
Cleansing properties come from a ****** bag. You give him too much credit. This guys only spews craziness and malice. - Reply to this comment
- mike71067
The first post I read and it''s from a freaking nut! I hope a Democrat wins the presidency just to see how you fruit loops will turn around whatever he/she does to be Bush''s fault! Is there a pychiatrist in the house? Mike needs help!
Wow!
On a more respectful note, I would like to express my condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the victims of this horrible accident. All it takes to try to understand what they''re feeling is to picture it happening to someone you loved....such a loss. - Reply to this comment
- You should be even prouder to be such a ****** bag!
- Reply to this comment
- Since Bush caused this failure of infrastructure, he should personally apologize to the victims. He should also apologize to the victims of hurricane Dean, which he also caused through global warming. Also, there is flooding in the midwest that Bush also caused through global warming.
I''m proud to be a Democrat. - Reply to this comment
