Florida International University Pedestrian Bridge Collapse; 4 Dead (Update: 6 Dead) Vehicles Still Trapped Under Rubble

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSES, SEVERAL DEAD …

A pedestrian bridge under construction that was intended to give Florida International University students a safe route across the busy roadway has collapsed. According to reports, at least 4 are dead.  According to Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue, multiple vehicles were crushed when the bridge came down near Florida International University’s campus at around 1:30 p.m on Thursday. There have now been 6 confirmed deaths.

A pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed Thursday, just days after crews had dropped an elevated 950-ton span in place on a signature project that was intended to give Florida International University students a safe route across the busy roadway.

The massive span — in a sudden, catastrophic failure — crashed down across eight lanes of heavily traveled Tamiami Trail, flattening eight cars. The death toll remained uncertain as rescue crews continued to work into the night to reach vehicles but late Thursday Miami-Dade fire chief Dave Downey confirmed at least four people had been killed, including a student from FIU, police sources said.

Nine people had been pulled from the rubble by evening and rushed to Kendall Regional Medical Center’s trauma unit, including two who required immediate surgery. The others sustained injuries ranging from scrapes and bruises to broken bones, which were not considered life threatening. On campus, some families waited for word on missing loved ones.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse of a $14.2 million structure FIU had touted as an innovative “instant” bridge because of construction techniques intended to speed up the work and minimize disruption to commuter traffic. The bridge’s main 175-foot span, assembled on the side of the road, was raised into place across Tamiami Trail on Saturday in less than six hours. But the project was far from complete and not expected to open to student foot traffic until 2019.

Sadly the this has now turned from a rescue to a recovery operation