Several people died when a 950-ton pedestrian bridge collapsed over a roadway near Florida International University (FIU). Live video footage of the incident shows 5 or 6 cars flattened beneath, pinned down by enormous concrete slabs. It is hard to imagine any of the people inside having survived, but some have.
Survivor is spared by @FIU bridge collapse. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/I0LlLhSHhv
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
The 174-foot-bridge was just installed early last Saturday morning, with local officials and construction company reps present for an unveiling ceremony.
It collapsed just days later on Thursday.
An 'accelerated' construction method is reported to have been used, and is the focus of great speculation.
It was scheduled to open to the public in early 2019. Some 55,000 students attend FIU, and the community hoped the bridge would reduce injuries and deaths that were common at this busy roadway.
Officials told reporters within minutes of the disaster that multiple deaths were apparent. The number of dead and injured is not yet known.
The area was less crowded with cars and pedestrians than it might have been, because classes at FIU were out for Spring Break.
Police sources telling me "possibly 5 dead so far." On scene: Miami-Dade, Doral, Sweetwater and state police. Chaplains are in route. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/2qngfMwVjB
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
#MDFRUpdate: #MDFRTRT is currently securing the structure while continuing to search for patients.
— MDFR (@MiamiDadeFire) March 15, 2018
Police telling me there are "mass casualties" after bridge at FIU collapses to the ground. @MiamiHerald
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
Construction workers are telling me it's an "engineering failure." They say casualties haven't been confirmed because nobody has been able to get beneath the bridge to find out. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/ywMRhjAUQa
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
A now-unavailable (but cached) page on FIU News says the bridge was constructed "using a method called Accelerated Bridge Construction" & installed on Saturday in 6 hrs to minimize traffic disruption https://t.co/xCr5CtBxlM pic.twitter.com/zLn0gI30uI
— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 15, 2018
This is the scene at @FIU. First responders are trying to see if drivers are responsive. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/cLuI54M1Ep
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
This is the scene at @FIU after bridge collapse. Police moving media away "just in case the rest falls down." @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/wqurS5IZTQ
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
Police calling doctors and nurses to the scene. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/lgvkNTdQSJ
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
FIU BRIDGE HAS COLLAPSED. STAY CLEAR OF CAMPUS. pic.twitter.com/J8mUNuIrdZ
— Jonathan Muñoz (@Munozz_Jonathan) March 15, 2018
This Miami bridge collapse is horrific. These cars have been completely flattened with drivers inside. pic.twitter.com/mZLkGP3DxF
— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 15, 2018
The bridge was many years in the making.
From NBC Miami:
The 174 foot bridge, scheduled to open to the public in early 2019, crossed Southwest 8th Street near 109th Avenue and was built with the purpose of allowing students living across the busy roadway to cross safely.
Cars are trapped under the bridge. Police confirm "multiple deaths." @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/0XopSxLibE
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
Ada Collazo rushed from Hialeah after she found out her daughter's car was crushed. She veas visiting campus for a nursing meeting. Thankfully she survived, she says. @MiamiHerald @elnuevoherald pic.twitter.com/FOJu1bUvGd
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
I wrote about the bridge just over the weekend. They closed roads to prop it up. How quickly it came down. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/JenrCJdS0N
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
Construction of the FIU bridge began in the Spring of 2017. It was called an "instant bridge." But is now "not the time" to talk about the dangers of deregulation? https://t.co/D5KXBDOI9h
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) March 15, 2018
NEW: Witnesses to the pedestrian bridge collapse on Florida International University Miami campus say they "didn't hear anything, didn't see anything, it just fell." https://t.co/tD8N7WbwJm pic.twitter.com/PYz13uCEUK
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) March 15, 2018
Family and friends of the injured or killed are being gathered inside an unknown classroom at @FIU where they'll meet with police chaplains. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/AO3Cg3rXDu
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018