911 Tapes From Minn. Bridge Collapse Heard

Released Transcripts And Tapes Reveal Horror And Disbelief

(AP)  "The whole bridge fell into the river," one shaken woman told a 911 dispatcher seconds after disaster struck on an interstate over the Mississippi.

"Everything you've got!" a male caller said five seconds later. "The whole bridge over the river fell down — there's cars all over the place. 35W over the Mississippi down by the U. It's the — there's hundreds of cars, they're in the river. Bring everything you've got!"

The Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center on Friday released tapes and transcripts of some 40 calls received in the minutes after the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed Aug. 1, sending dozens of motorists plunging into the river. About 100 people called within two minutes of the 6:05 p.m. collapse, quickly erasing dispatchers' initial disbelief.

Minneapolis 911 supervisor Maryam Williams said she and the 14 operators and dispatchers who worked that night struggled at first to grasp what happened. She said she didn't see the first television pictures until about three hours later — and "that's when it hit me," she said.

"Even in my mind, when somebody told me the bridge collapsed, I'm still thinking a car flipped over in the water," Williams said Friday. "The magnitude of what happened — my mind wouldn't even go there."

The 911 tapes were released in response to public records requests from news media including The Associated Press. The collapse killed 13 people and injured about 100.

About six minutes after the collapse, a caller named Brian, whose hand was bleeding, tried to explain the scene to an operator, who asked if he was in his car.

"No — I'm out of the car," the driver said.

Operator: "OK, are you floating in the river, then?"

Driver: "No, I'm on like a little island part in the middle. There's a lot of people here too. And I think there could be people trapped in cars is what I'm really worried about."

At 6:23 p.m., a youth worker called after hearing from somebody on the school bus. The 911 operator told him the Interstate 35W bridge had collapsed.

"Oh my God," the caller said. "Where can we go so we can make sure that we get there? Because there are children on that bus."

The operator asked, "Did the bus collapse in the river?"

"I don't know. I don't know," the caller said.

All the children on the bus were rescued.

The cause of the collapse hasn't been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board and a private firm retained by the state are investigating.

[scarletphd]

Just remember: All public works projects are built by the lowest bidder.
Posted by marjorum

Brilliant assessment. DUH

[mcvet]

Congress alocates funding for everything. One would hope politics can be kept out of this one and the focus be on fixing ALL of the problems with our bridges and highways. A good start would be a new Federal Highways and Bridges bill from Congress with zero earmarks and a stipulation that highway and bridge funding can''''t be transferred to pet projects of the powerfull as has been done in the past.
Posted by jowand at 11:49 AM : Aug 25, 2007

LOL You Fascist NEVER EVER want to take responsibility for your actions do you. LOOK at the Congressional RECORD for the last 30 years! LOOK at how Fascist have won elections over that period. EVERY single YEAR that Fascist have been in control of Congress they have CUT the funds to repair roads and bridges! EVERY SINGLE YEAR!! Yet they have had NO problem building Senator Steven''s Bridge to NOWHERE!! It''s time for America to face the reality!! It''s time to accept the FACT that Trickle Down was nothing more than a Sell out of this great nation. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[skyk-2009]

Just remember: All public works projects are built by the lowest bidder.
Posted by marjorum at 01:21 PM : Aug 25, 2007

Very true! It should also, be noted that these Bridges were built by Human''s, sometimes GREEDY humans who cut corners. That''s why they need to be inspected AND replaced when found to be defective.

[undermyboot]

Just remember: All public works projects are built by the lowest bidder.
Posted by marjorum at 01:21 PM : Aug 25, 2007
--------
The most insightful point of the day. LMAO Congrats to marjorum.

[Marjorum]

Just remember: All public works projects are built by the lowest bidder.

[adak4]

I totally agree with the statement "common sense never prevails in government". Our members of the government are only out for number one. They rarely think about the people who voted them into office; only about their personal adjenda.
If the statement that the infrastructure was initiated by President Eisenhower as part of the national defense program what will happen when government remembers that and puts it into the hands of Homeland Security. We will really be up a creek without a paddle then.

[j-whitman]

To hell with it,,, I lay blame directly on republicans insisting on No Taxes,, *** our country just to get elected & fill thier pockets --- dishonorable & truely UN-American

[j-whitman]

jowand,,, Good morning,, I agree politics should be kept out of it... But, unfortunatly it won''t be..
.. 250 billion every year has to be stufed away for the next 10 years just to fix our nations bridges & that takes, taxes of one sort or another.
... Unfortunatly, it goes against the principle grain of the GOP''s No Taxes, as in fighting wars.
... I can''t lay it on one party or another amigo.. It''s us who belive the rhetoric, assuming any politician is straight foward on any issue, including the War On Terror.

[jowand]

Congress alocates funding for everything. One would hope politics can be kept out of this one and the focus be on fixing ALL of the problems with our bridges and highways. A good start would be a new Federal Highways and Bridges bill from Congress with zero earmarks and a stipulation that highway and bridge funding can''t be transferred to pet projects of the powerfull as has been done in the past.

[thompstone-2009]

Tragedy sells. Lots of people will go to this clip hoping that the 911 tapes are attached. I''m thinking it''s human nature.