Bridge falls into Mississippi River - 老美也有这樣的事故

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Bridge falls into Mississippi River

The entire span of an interstate bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening rush
hour Wednesday, sending vehicles, tons of concrete and twisted metal crashing into the water.

The Interstate 35W bridge, a major link between Minneapolis and St. Paul, was in the midst of
being repaired when it broke into several huge sections.

"There were two lanes of traffic, bumper to bumper, at the point of the collapse. Those cars
did go into the river," Minneapolis Police Lt. Amelia Huffman. "At this point there is nothing to
suggest that this was anything other than a structural collapse."

The Homeland Security Department had received no indications Wednesday night that the
collapse was related to an act of terrorism, department spokesman Russ Knocke said in
Washington.

"At this time, there's no indication of a nexus to terrorism," Knocke said.

It was not clear how many people were injured. WCCO-AM reported that one body was seen
being pulled from the area, covered with a blue sheet.

An estimated 50 vehicles plunged into the water and onto the land below, the Star-Tribune
reported.

A burning truck and a school bus clung to one slanted slab,the bus had just crossed the bridge before it crumpled into pieces, and broadcast reports indicated the children on the bus exited
out the back door.

The arched bridge, which was built in 1967, rises about 64 feet above the river. Workers have
been repairing the 40-year-old bridge's surface as part of improvements along that stretch of
the interstate, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported on its Web site.