August 1
Minneapolis, Minnesota - An interstate bridge jammed with rush-hour traffic suddenly broke into huge sections and collapsed into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis on Wednesday, pitching dozens of cars 20 metres into the water and killing at least seven people.

Minneapolis Fire Chief said more than 60 people were injured and the death toll could rise. Rescuers called off the search as nightfall made it too dangerous to search the waters filled with chunks of the mangled bridge and at least 50 vehicles in the water.

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of being repaired and two lanes in each direction were closed when the bridge buckled.

The steel-arched bridge, which was built in 1967, rises about 20 metres above the river.

There were two lanes of traffic, bumper to bumper, at the point of the collapse. Those cars did go into the river.

It appeared the centre section of the bridge dropped straight down and pancaked in the middle of the river, leaving several vehicles stranded on a broken island of wreckage. As divers plumbed the waters, other rescuers searched frantically for victims amid broken, zigzagged sections of blacktop. Some of the injured were carried up the riverbanks.

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 weren't completely in the water

The bridge was built with a single 140-metre-long steel arch to avoid putting any piers in the water that might interfere with river navigation.
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Im watching this on CNN right now. It happened at the height of rush hour and their are 9 dead and at least 60 injured and those numbers are expected to rise. 20 people are missing. 50 vehicles fell into the water.

CNN will have video of the actual collapsing of the bridge from a security video later on today.


CNN

Amazing, thankfully half the lanes were closed for construction... I’ll be interested in seeing what the investigation finds...

I heard about this last night. After I came home from a movie. I turned on the news waiting for my animal cops show to come on. I was excepting something else. But man. I watched a few minutes it then turned it off. From what I heard last it was at 6. I hope they don't find anymore dead bodies. I'm glad the school kids are alright. I heard one bus. But what about the other two that landed in the river? Are they find too?

Edit: Honestly, I was on the vurge of actually crying. For the people. I still am on the vurge.

Apparently the death toll has dropped to 4 confirmed, but naturally there could be plenty of people under water. Word is the bridge was checked last year and found to contain fractures, there was actually a construction crew working on the bridge when it collapsed, but it's unknown whether something they did caused it (I'd say the bridge was already on the verge of collapse, they might have just given it the nudge needed). But yeah, that's basically what I just heard on the news before, dunno how much of it is fact. Regardless, what a frightening experience.

Update I saw this on the yahoo front page. I haven't completely read the article. Only the first part of it. I hope the death toll stays down.

Lol whats the death troll? The troll who's stays under bridges picking up the people who've died? XD

Yeah but seriously I feel it, I know some people in Minneapolis and I hope none of them were hurt. I've been there before, pretty cool place.

Right now (I just posted a link above your post) at 8. The death toll keeps going up & down. I think after the recue effect is over. We might learn the actual death toll.

Edit: Today, I saw a news article. That said the death toll is steady at five. It seems that not many people lost their lives. When the bridge fall.

2nd edit: Found it.

._. so... anybody reported they seen a mothman yet like the other one ._.

I don't think so, Bluelight. I think everyone is worried about people. And getting them out as soon as possible.