I-35W Bridge Collapse: 7 Dead, 20 Missing, 60 Injured

From TwinCities.com:

Bumper-to-bumper traffic crawled across the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River on Wednesday evening when the surface buckled, plunging cars, trucks and the people in them 64 feet. Late Wednesday, seven people were reported dead, 20 were missing and more than 60 were injured, authorities said. Officials expect the death toll to rise as the search effort turns to recovery today. "It was one of the most tragic nights in the history of Minneapolis," said Mayor R.T. Rybak, during a news conference at City Hall on Wednesday night. The 64-foot-high bridge was undergoing maintenance and had a Minnesota Department of Transportation crew on it when the collapse occurred shortly after 6 p.m., authorities said. It was unclear Wednesday night the full number of cars or people affected by the collapse. A school bus also was on the bridge at the time it fell, according to officials. Sixty children were taken from the bus. Up to 10 were transported to area hospitals. Aerial shots from local television stations showed the entire span of I-35W had crumpled into the river below. Some of the injured were carried up the riverbank, while emergency workers and volunteers tended to others on the ground. A BNSF train was on the tracks below the bridge and hit by pieces. It was unclear Wednesday night the total number of cars or motorists involved in the collapse. "Obviously, this is a catastrophe of historic proportions for Minnesota," Gov. Tim Pawlenty said.

Read the whole article