Collapse of pedestrian bridge kills at least four in Miami

MIAMI — A pedestrian bridge that was under construction collapsed onto a busy Miami highway Thursday afternoon, crushing vehicles beneath its massive slabs of concrete and steel and killing at least four people, authorities said.

Search-and-rescue crews worked into the night, using dogs, search cameras and sensitive listening devices in a frantic attempt to find survivors among the debris.

“Everybody is working hard to make sure we rescue anyone who can be,” Gov. Rick Scott said.

Miami-Dade police director Juan Perez said hopes were dwindling as time passes: “We know that there’s going to be a negative outcome at the end of the day.”

Four people were quickly found dead amid the chaotic scene, and nine victims were taken “early on” to hospitals, Fire Chief Dave Downey said without elaborating on their conditions.

The partially-built 950-ton bridge had been assembled by the side of the highway and moved into place Saturday to great fanfare. The span stretched almost 60 metres to connect Florida International University (FIU) with the city of Sweetwater. It was expected to open to foot traffic next year.

“This bridge was about goodness, not sadness,” said FIU president Mark Rosenberg. “Now we’re feeling immense sadness, uncontrollable sadness.”

Scott said an exhaustive investigation will uncover “why this happened and what happened,” and he vowed to hold accountable those responsible.

The main companies behind the $14.2 million US project have faced questions about their past work, and one was fined in 2012 when a 90-ton section of a bridge collapsed in Virginia.