By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas By — Erica R. Hendry Erica R. Hendry Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/pedestrian-bridge-collapses-in-miami Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 6 dead after pedestrian bridge collapses in Miami Nation Updated on Mar 16, 2018 9:50 AM EDT — Published on Mar 15, 2018 2:53 PM EDT A pedestrian bridge at Florida International University collapsed Thursday in Miami, killing at least six people and injuring 10 others, according to local officials. The total extent of the injuries and fatalities is unknown. Police stopped short of providing additional info about the victims. At a Thursday news conference, fire Chief Dave Downey said the effort to get to eight cars buried by the 950-ton bridge would continue into the evening. Live press conference of #FIUBridgeCollapse https://t.co/Z8ZcpYyge7 — MDFR (@MiamiDadeFire) March 15, 2018 Aerial footage and photos posted to social media show rescue crews and ambulances working to clear rubble at the scene. Service dogs are on the scene barking. Crew focusing on one vehicle. #fiubridge @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/EJMGcC9Qhk — Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018 “We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge,” the university said in a statement. “We are working with the appropriate agencies to assist in rescue efforts,” it added later in the day. Local leaders and law enforcement speak at a Thursday news briefing. The 950-ton bridge was rapidly installed in Sweetwater, Florida, a few days ago, designed to provide students a safe passage over a busy street and link the university’s main campus to a cluster of off-campus housing, the Miami Herald reported. The bridge itself was not yet open when it collapsed onto the cars beneath it. First-of-its-kind pedestrian bridge “swings” into place. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” -President Mark B. Rosenberg. https://t.co/x8gPM9A4DG #worldsahead pic.twitter.com/mPEMeh2zmw — FIU (@FIU) March 10, 2018 It’s not immediately clear why the bridge collapsed. Gov. Rick Scott said at Thursday’s conference that an investigation to determine “why this happened and what happened” is underway. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the collapse. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was at the site of the collapse yesterday, said a widening investigation will “reveal how & why this terrible tragedy happened.” He also tweeted that cables that suspended the bridge had loosened and “were being tightened when it collapsed today.” The cables that suspend the #Miami bridge had loosened & the engineering firm ordered that they be tightened. They were being tightened when it collapsed today. https://t.co/9Uc9EUsDYY — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 16, 2018 President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that he was “continuing to monitor the heartbreaking bridge collapse at FIU – so tragic … Praying this evening for all who are affected.” PBS NewsHour will update this story as it develops. By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage By — Erica R. Hendry Erica R. Hendry Erica R. Hendry is the managing editor for digital at PBS NewsHour. @ericarhendry
A pedestrian bridge at Florida International University collapsed Thursday in Miami, killing at least six people and injuring 10 others, according to local officials. The total extent of the injuries and fatalities is unknown. Police stopped short of providing additional info about the victims. At a Thursday news conference, fire Chief Dave Downey said the effort to get to eight cars buried by the 950-ton bridge would continue into the evening. Live press conference of #FIUBridgeCollapse https://t.co/Z8ZcpYyge7 — MDFR (@MiamiDadeFire) March 15, 2018 Aerial footage and photos posted to social media show rescue crews and ambulances working to clear rubble at the scene. Service dogs are on the scene barking. Crew focusing on one vehicle. #fiubridge @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/EJMGcC9Qhk — Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018 “We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge,” the university said in a statement. “We are working with the appropriate agencies to assist in rescue efforts,” it added later in the day. Local leaders and law enforcement speak at a Thursday news briefing. The 950-ton bridge was rapidly installed in Sweetwater, Florida, a few days ago, designed to provide students a safe passage over a busy street and link the university’s main campus to a cluster of off-campus housing, the Miami Herald reported. The bridge itself was not yet open when it collapsed onto the cars beneath it. First-of-its-kind pedestrian bridge “swings” into place. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” -President Mark B. Rosenberg. https://t.co/x8gPM9A4DG #worldsahead pic.twitter.com/mPEMeh2zmw — FIU (@FIU) March 10, 2018 It’s not immediately clear why the bridge collapsed. Gov. Rick Scott said at Thursday’s conference that an investigation to determine “why this happened and what happened” is underway. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the collapse. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was at the site of the collapse yesterday, said a widening investigation will “reveal how & why this terrible tragedy happened.” He also tweeted that cables that suspended the bridge had loosened and “were being tightened when it collapsed today.” The cables that suspend the #Miami bridge had loosened & the engineering firm ordered that they be tightened. They were being tightened when it collapsed today. https://t.co/9Uc9EUsDYY — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 16, 2018 President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that he was “continuing to monitor the heartbreaking bridge collapse at FIU – so tragic … Praying this evening for all who are affected.” PBS NewsHour will update this story as it develops.