Bridge collapse in MSP

The entire span of the I-35W bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

No link yet that I see.

Good god ...

 

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1338294.html

I-35W bridge collapses

By Matt McKinney, Star Tribune

Last update: August 01, 2007 – 6:45 PM

The span of the Interstate 35W bridge across the Mississippi River collapsed into the river around 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, sending cars into the water, witnesses said.

The collapse left some cars intact on the deck of the bridge, but others tumbled into the river, according to Joe Blade, a resident of the Riverview Tower at 1920 South First St.

“The bridge is collapsed into the river,” said Blade, speaking to a reporter from his apartment in the tower. “There’s black smoke coming out from underneath it at the southern edge of the collapse.”

Another resident of the tower said she heard the bridge collapse.

“First I heard this huge roar,” said Leone Carstens. “I was at my computer. Initially I thought, Wow was that an airplane?”

The scene that greeted her when she looked out her window was “awful,” she said.

The bridge was crowded with rush hour vehicles when it collapsed, she said. Thick black smoke rose up from the bridge as at least one vehicle burned on the cement below, she said. She said she couldn’t make out vehicles in the water, but there was debris.

“It could be people in the water. It may just be stuff sticking up out of the water,” she said. “They don’t seem to be moving.”

Matt McKinney • 612-673-7329

 

I've been on this bridge quite a few times.

I'm really queasy right now.

 

Local news has live shots. This is bad. Saying 30-50 cars in the water (KSTP). Cars on fire.

 

Thoughts and prayers.

 

Any links to news web sites with video?

 

Fuck me.

 

Unbelievable. It really looks like an earthquake hit there.

 

A couple of the local MSP stations are streaming.

 

kstp.com

 

Thank you.

 

For the longest time I was scared of riding on bridges for this very reason. This is hard to contemplate.