PICTURED: The shocking seconds after Miami’s 950-ton ‘Instant Bridge’ collapsed onto cars at red lights killing at least four people – days after it was installed in SIX HOURS for student’s safety
Pedestrian bridge linking Florida International University campus with Sweetwater collapsed on Thursday
US Senator Bill Nelson told a Miami TV station that between six and 10 people were killed
Ten people were rushed to hospital, two in critical condition suffering from a cardiac arrest and a brain injury
Rescuers, with dogs, worked to find survivors and free the eight vehicles trapped in the bridge wreckage
The 950-ton bridge was installed last Saturday and had not yet been open to pedestrian traffic
FIU touted the bridge’s construction as a huge success since it was installed in just six hours on Saturday
The bridge wasn’t due to be open to foot traffic until early 2019, according to the university
FIU students had long demanded a bridge because it was too dangerous to cross the 7-lane Tamiami Trail
An estimated 4,000 FIU students live in Sweetwater, a city near Miami which is part of Dade County
Construction of the bridge cost $14million, which was paid for by the federal government
FIGG and Munilla Construction, the two companies that collaborated on the bridge, expressed sorrow
Both companies have been accused in years past of shoddy construction practices
By ARIEL ZILBER
DAILYMAIL.COM
15 March 2018
Up to 10 people have been killed when a newly installed pedestrian bridge spanning several lanes of traffic collapsed at Florida International University on Thursday.
Cars were waiting for the lights to change when the 950-ton ‘instant bridge’, which was installed in just six hours on Saturday, crumbled and fell on the waiting traffic on the busy, seven lane 8th Street, which runs from downtown Miami all the way to the Everglades.
A motorist captured the aftermath, seconds after the collapse, as the bridge disappeared and dust rose from the rubble.
Fire Chief Dave Downey confirmed four were found dead among the rubble of the bridge, as rescuers continue to hunt for survivors. Some workers were on the bridge when it collapsed, but officials did not detail whether any of them were among the dead. He said ‘search and rescue mode’ is continuing after nightfall.
Gov. Rick Scott also spoke to reporters, saying ‘everybody is working hard to make sure we rescue anyone who can be rescued’ adding that an investigation will get to the bottom of ‘why this happened and what happened.’
If anyone had done anything wrong, ‘we will hold them accountable’, he added.
Ten people were rushed to Kendall Regional Medical Center, at least two in ‘extremely critical’ condition. One of those who arrived in critical condition was suffering a cardiac arrest, but was revived by doctors, while the other has a serious brain injury.
The remaining eight were stable, with injuries such as ‘bruises and abrasions to broken bones.’
The 174-foot ‘instant bridge’ hailed as a feat of engineering and safety, was installed Saturday morning but was not due to open to the public until 2019. The $14.2 million structure was designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, the most dangerous measure by the National Hurricane Center, and built to last 100 years, the university said.
The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team to investigate why it collapsed.
‘We’re working our way into the pile trying to create holes that we can actually physically see,’ Miami-Dade Fire Department Division Chief Paul Estopian told reporters.
The Florida Highway Patrol has said several people were killed but did not release a figure on fatalities. Rescue teams are working to free eight vehicles were trapped in the bridge wreckage, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in an interview with CBS Miami.
One person was suffering from cardiac arrest, Gimenez said.
Television images captured from helicopter show numerous cars crushed by the weight of the bridge.
The Rest…HERE
