Six Dead in Bridge Collapse at FIU
A new pedestrian bridge under construction near the campus of Florida International University collapsed Thursday, crushing eight cars underneath the concrete slabs.
[UPDATED March 16 at 10:50 a.m.]
A new pedestrian bridge under construction near the campus of Florida International University collapsed Thursday, crushing eight cars underneath the concrete slabs. The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed to NBC Miami on Friday that six people have died.
"This has turned into from a rescue to a recovery operation," Det. Alvaro Zabaleta said.
According to NBC Miami, 10 people were taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center from the site of the bridge collapse, and two of them were in critical condition when they arrived. One person died at the hospital, but it is not clear if it was one of the 10 taken there.
The cause of the bridge collapse has not yet been determined. A team of investigators was sent to the site by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The bridge was lifted off its temporary support and placed in its permanent position above a seven-lane road on Saturday, NBC news reported. According to Florida senator Marco Rubio, the cables used to suspend the bridge had loosened and the engineering firm had ordered they be tightened.
"They were being tightened when it collapsed today," Rubio said.
The bridge, which cost $14.2 million, was constructed using a method called accelerated bridge construction, meant to reduce potential risks to workers, commuters, and pedestrians as well as prevent traffic problems in the area, CBSN reported. It was scheduled to open in early 2019.