We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
TWO VEHICLES CONTAINING three bodies were removed from the wreckage of the Miami bridge which collapsed on Thursday as authorities continued to remove debris in attempt to recover at least four cars still trapped.
Police used cameras to locate five bodies in the ruble of the pedestrian bridge under construction at Florida International University (FIU). Authorities were carefully trying to get to remaining victims.
At least six people were killed when the structure fell onto a busy highway two days ago.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the collapse and whether cracking that was reported just before the span fell contributed to the bridge failure.
An engineer left a voicemail two days before the collapse to say some cracking had been found at one end of the concrete span, but the voicemail wasn’t picked up until after the collapse, Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) officials said yesterday.
The voicemail left on a landline wasn’t heard by a state DOT employee until Friday because the employee was out of the office on an assignment, the agency said in an email.
In a transcript released last night, Denney Pate with FIGG Bridge Group says the cracking would need repairs “but from a safety perspective we don’t see that there’s any issue there so we’re not concerned about it from that perspective”.
FIU released a statement today saying representatives from the university and DOT met with a FIGG engineer for two hours on Thursday morning to discuss the cracking and determined there wasn’t a safety issue.
The bridge fell soon afterward.
FIU said:
The FIGG engineer of record delivered a technical presentation regarding the crack and concluded that there were no safety concerns and the crack did not compromise the structural integrity of the bridge.
At a press conference, officials from the National Transportation Safety Board said they have just begun their investigation, and cannot yet say whether any cracking contributed to the collapse.
They also said workers were trying to strengthen a diagonal member on the bridge when it collapsed.
Richie Humble, who studies at FIU, was riding in a car under the pedestrian bridge when he heard a long creaking noise coming from the structure that spanned a busy Miami-area highway.
It sounded different from anything he had ever heard before. Humble said in a phone interview with The Associated Press:
I looked up, and in an instant, the bridge was collapsing on us completely. It was too quick to do anything about it.
Once Humble realized he was alive, he also realized that he could not get to Duran. He called to her but got no response. A group of men outside the car started yelling at him to try crawling through the rear window.
He couldn’t squeeze through because the window was crushed. The men outside grabbed a wooden plank and pried open the rear door to pull him free, he said.
“I was trying to get people to realize my friend was still in there,” he said.
He suffered cuts to his leg from glass and a slight fracture to a vertebra, but he was able to walk away from the scene.
Scheduled to open in 2019, the bridge would have provided safe passage over a canal and six lanes of traffic and created a showpiece architectural feature connecting the campus of FIU with the community of Sweetwater, where many students live.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Imported steel!
@Hello DAVE!:
What point are you making?
@Nick Allen: A simple enough one to most!
@Maxwell Eddizon:
And what do you suggest that is? Are you able to see an implication in the comment that the fact it was imported may have contributed to the accident or is that level of thinking beyond you?
@Nick Allen: On the screen now, we see 4/5 questions from you. Why not go out and enjoy yourself on the 17th – and maybe get a b/f or g/f, instead of asking more questions on here?
@Hello DAVE!: Designed by a crazy feminist(is there another type?) who seemed more concerned with it looking good than actually being safe!
@Maxwell Eddizon:
So you can’t engage with a sensible response, just the usual limited tripe suggesting people go away. I suppose it is to be expected and is in keeping with your normal level of your comments.
@Nick Allen: Still questions – but without question marks. Go out and enjoy yourself – people won’t mind, much¡
@Hello DAVE!: Yay capitalism.
@Maxwell Eddizon:
Have you noticed that you are the one the continually engages with me and generally trying to highlight where my comment is incorrect. I then respond and you can’t back up anything you say and resort to telling me to go away. Maybe if you stop engaging with me you will look less foolish
@Nick Allen: Many of us on here are attempting to help you get out more – that’s all¡!
@Maxwell Eddizon: Hillarious, too funny
@Daisy Chainsaw:
Because buildings and other structures never fail in non-capitalist countries?
@Maxwell Eddizon:
Again, no sensible reply.
@Nick Allen: No, that’s why you need a sensible b/f or g/f. Ideally – but not necessarily – with all bodily functions, and with arms and legs that would pass mustard.
@Hello DAVE!: fake news
@Maxwell Eddizon:
Still talking rubbish I see, I suppose it must be kind of nice having little between the ears. If you don’t understand what’s happening you probably have a relatively easy life. A bit like a dog or a cat, they are happy in their own little life
Suspension bridges are not suitable for concrete bridges. Concrete is vv heavy. The tensile stress in the ropes was too high hence the sagging. The rope or its attachment can break. Many examples of safe steel suspension bridges.
@gregory: Better take down the Dundrum Luas bridge then. Materials used shouldn’t make a difference as long as the design and engineering are done right.
Here is the moment it collapsed. It was caught on a dash cam video:
@dstaffx:
At least they updated it, it is one thing looking incompetent but when the error changes the meaning of the sentence, and in particular on a sensitive issue like this they should really do something about it.
Spellcheck – copy edit – something!!
@dstaffx:
Any idea why your comment was censored?
Looks alright to me Ted !
Sure it’ll be grand.
have your say