Miami, FL – Officials say multiple people have been killed and eight people have been taken to the hospital in the collapse of a bridge at a Florida university.
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Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Division Chief Paul Estopinan said at a Thursday afternoon news conference that there were “multiple victims” but the number hadn’t been determined yet.
Estopinan says eight vehicles were trapped under the new pedestrian bridge at Florida International University in the Miami area.
“The main focus is to rescue people.” said Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez. “As soon as those efforts are over, our homicide bureau will take the lead.”
Deputy Mayor Maurice Kemp says search dogs are working the scene.
The section of bridge spanning a busy road had just been installed Saturday.
The National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to the scene. Gov. Rick Scott said he was headed there as well.
“We have a national tragedy on our hands,” Sweetwater Mayor Orlando Lopez said.
The “accelerated bridge construction” method was supposed to reduce risks to workers and pedestrians and minimize traffic disruption, the university said.
“FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg said in the statement Saturday.
Cristina Rodriguez, a 23-year-old junior who was on spring break with other students, said she was not surprised when she heard the bridge collapsed.
“I just felt the bridge was done too quickly to believe the bridge was stable and sound to support everything that was on there,” said Rodriguez, who was not on campus Thursday but drives through the intersection almost daily.
MCM, the Miami-based construction management firm that won the bridge contract, took its website down on Thursday. But an archived version of the website featured a news release touting the project.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said President Donald Trump is aware of the collapse.
“Our brave first responders are working feverishly to save lives,” she said at a news briefing.
A shanda! In other countries, such as South Korea, the executives in charge of the bridge construction, would immediately be arrested. In the late 1990’s, at a wedding reception in Israel, I remember a tape of the guests dancing. All of a sudden, the dance floor collapsed, sending scores of guests, falling several floors down. Several people were killed, and many were injured. The Israelis conducted an extensive investigation and determined that the contractors were at fault, as they built the structure with substandard material. In fact, those involved, who were convicted, were sentenced to 6-7 years in jail!