A pedestrian bridge located on Florida International University’s campus collapsed Thursday afternoon leaving at least one dead and multiple injured.
The pedestrian bridge in Miami was reportedly installed Saturday, five days before Thursday’s collapse. The college said the bridge was built to lower the risk for workers, walkers, drivers and would lead to a decrease of traffic in the area, The Miami Herald reported.
At least eight cars remain crushed underneath the bridge, as first responders are trying to clear debris to rescue anyone possibly stuck underneath.
The bridge was 174-foot and weighed 950-tons. It was installed “in a few hours” using “accelerated bridge construction” methods, the university said. The bridge cost $14.2 million dollars and was part of $19.4 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, FIU News reported.
Photos: Pedestrian bridge collapses near Florida International University’s main campus https://t.co/OJdS9o67pd
— FSGator (@FSGator) March 15, 2018
The FIU bridge collapsing… I’m still in shock pic.twitter.com/ZNqO2z5ch6
— Megan (@meganmfernandez) March 15, 2018
Survivor is spared by @FIU bridge collapse. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/I0LlLhSHhv
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
Katrina Collazo was at a red light when she said she felt something like small rocks fall on her car. As she turned around, the whole backseat was smashed and the car next to her, buried. #fiubridge @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/vNaRqD4Jbi
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
WATCH:
THE FIU BRIDGE COLLAPSED OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/JO7jfx5AoN
— Gabriela Collazo (@GabrielaRose12) March 15, 2018
Terrifying video from the ground shows the wreckage left when a new pedestrian bridge near @FIU collapsed on a roadway Thursday, crushing eight vehicles. https://t.co/XtRrHsUTza pic.twitter.com/FO1aZHk0e7
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 15, 2018
First-of-its-kind pedestrian bridge “swings” into place. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” -President Mark B. Rosenberg. https://t.co/x8gPM9A4DG #worldsahead pic.twitter.com/mPEMeh2zmw
— FIU (@FIU) March 10, 2018
The Florida bridge that collapsed, dubbed an “instant bridge,” was set up in one day. The company apparently behind it tweeted this three hours ago. https://t.co/6brx1762CK
— Katie Watson (@kathrynw5) March 15, 2018
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said in a tweet Thursday that the cables on the bridge had loosened when the 950-ton, 175-foot-long structure collapsed.
The cables that suspend the #Miami bridge had loosened & the engineering firm ordered that they be tightened. They were being tightened when it collapsed today. https://t.co/9Uc9EUsDYY
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 16, 2018
Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott sent out a tweet saying that he was aware of the incident and that he would be in “constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day.” Minutes, later Scott announced he was headed to FIU.
I have spoken with Miami-Dade County Police Chief Juan Perez about the pedestrian bridge collapse at FIU. I will be in constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day.
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) March 15, 2018
The pedestrian bridge had not yet been opened to the public when it collapsed.
UPDATE:
Six people are dead and 10 others remain hospitalized after bodies were pulled out and taken to the hospital.
(This post and will be updated as more information becomes available.)
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