Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x <a href="http://news.aol.com/story/_a/bridge-collapse-sends-vehicles-into/20070801194509990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001" target="_blank">http://news.aol.com/story/_a/b ridge-collapse-sends-vehicles-into/20070801194509990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001</a> How horrible. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I just saw video on Fox. Really bad. Let's hope that there will be more survivors than not.
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Minneapolis" target="_blank">http://maps.google.com/maps?f= q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Minneapolis</a>,+MN&ie=UTF8&ll=44.977732,-93.241825&spn=0.028475,0.058365&t=h&z=14&om=1 The bridge was Highway 35. It should be right in the middle of the map.
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x Try this <a href="http://tinyurl.com/28hnso" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/28hnso</a>
Originally Posted By hopemax Hopefully, RoadTrip will check-in, since the roadway is in the area around the Univ. of Minnesota.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm fine, as are all members of my family. Even though I'm not directly involved I've been in kind of a state of shock all evening. It is a terrible tragedy. At least 50 cars were on the bridge when it collapsed. So far there are reports of 60 injured and 6 deaths. I'm afraid the death toll will climb rapidly as the emergency workers say they are now in a "recovery" operation rather than a "rescue" operation. A school bus was one of the vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed and by some miracle none of the children were killed, though 6 remain hospitalized with serious injuries. As you might guess, that bridge is used by thousands of University workers every day. Fortunately the official University day ends at 4:30, so most employees were probably home before the collapse. What is kind of scary to me is when we used to live in Eden Prairie; we would very likely have been on that bridge at that time. We usually leave work some time between 5:30 and 6:00 PM. Now that we live in Roseville (the past year and a half) we take city streets home, and never use the freeway. Thanks for thinking of me.
Originally Posted By ecdc ^^^Ditto. The governor says the bridge passed inspection the past two years. I can't even fathom how something like this could happen.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice RT... I'm so relieved you and yours are safe. I just saw the news on CNN and came here immediately. *HUGS* Mr. Alice had already left for work, but I'm sure he knows about this now (there's always news on in the breakroom). He's going to be worried for family and friends who still live there... We'll be making some phone calls later. Our love and hope to everyone affected...
Originally Posted By SFH Horrifying. When you consider how many bridges there are in the country, it is surprising that this doesn't happen more often. That's a testament to agencies like the NTSB, the engineers, and the construction crews. I worked with civil engineers, including bridge engineers and inspectors in my previous position. They were responsible for the safety of just about any bridge (including pedestrian) for roadways (except freeway interchanges and the like, which were Caltrans' deal) in the County of Los Angeles. Extremely professional and dedicated people. SFH
Originally Posted By StitchMom84 Roadtrip, I didn't realize that we're pretty much close neighbors. I live in New Brighton, right off 35W and both of us are not that far from that bridge. My hubby drives for a living and is on that bridge sometimes several times per day. I work with an Acct Manager at my job whose neice was the driver of that school bus. She is going to be ok, but this ( as everyone can understand )still has many of us in shock. I was on that bridge with my daughter and grandaugher just a few days ago and we were stuck in traffic that wasn't moving and there was some light construction going on. The traffic was at a snail's pace and I could feel the bridge vibrate slightly..which is what they should do I understand, but I felt very glad to get over to the other side that day. I never even give bridges a second thought usually. As I have a sis-in-law that works at the U Med Ctr and that is a regular route for her and some other family and friends as well, we spent much of last evening doing a family/friends check. Luckily all seem to be accounted for as well. As many who are so much more eleoquent than I have said "this all seems so surreal".
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x RoatTrip & StitchMom...glad everyone is OK over there. Up in Oroville, CA, which is north of Sacramento, an overpass collapsed Tuesday morning. They were building it and it just gave way. Luckily, only 2 were injured, no casulties. However, when I saw that in my newspaper this morning (waaay down in Southern CA, practically Mexico), I realized that was where my mom just moved!! I called her and her boyfriend was right behind it and saw it happen. Scary stuff. 3 Famous men die in a matter of days, a bridge collapse, an overpass collapse, and a 7.2 earthquake in Vanuatu...what's the world coming to at this point?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip An absolutely incredible first person report from one of the survivors... Source: <a href="http://www.startribune.com/10205/rich_media/1342769.html" target="_blank">http://www.startribune.com/102 05/rich_media/1342769.html</a>
Originally Posted By avromark Although nothing like this bridge, the funny thing was I was stuck in traffic on an overpass under repair (going over railroad tracks, not a bridge high above the river) when I first heard this news on the radio. Kind of creeped me out thinking what it would have been like. Then I thought of the freeway collapses during the Earthquake in California all those years ago. I can't imagine what it would be like (even if you escaped unharmed) to go through that. I would imagine it would involve time slowing down as the tragedy occurs, then a sudden rush as you try to escape from what could very well have became your "coffin". Although there is loss, I am happy that there were many who got out (whether unharmed or harmed).
Originally Posted By chickendumpling RoadTrip - I was so relieved to see you post. I was so worried when I heard the news. You came to mind immediately. I wanted to come to LP and post a page for you but I didn't want to add to the stress. Glad you and yours are okay. I wish I'd come into WE earlier to see your post. Boy, I never thought I'd hear myself say I'd wished I'd come into WE.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling StitchMom84, I'm glad you all are safe too. Such a scary thing. I saw an interview with the counselor who jumped over all the rows of seats to kick out the back door and help get all the kids out of the bus. I have to admit, I got a little choked up. We never really know what we're capable of until the moment is upon us, do we? And yes, I know it was his job to do that but knowing that you are supposed to do it and having the courage to actually do it are two separate things. Such a tragedy. My heart goes out to the families and friends who lost someone.
