‘Several dead’ after new bridge collapses near Florida college

A new pedestrian bridge collapsed on to a road at a Miami college yesterday, crushing at least five vehicles under massive slabs and killing several people.

Casualties were seen being loaded into ambulances and authorities launched search and rescue missions. Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alejandro Camacho told CBS News that there were “several fatalities”.

Miami-dade Fire Rescue tweeted that “multiple” people were injured when the Florida International University bridge collapsed.

Authorities said they were working on confirming the numbers. The bridge was still under construction and expected to open to foot traffic next year.

“We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the Fiu-sweetwater pedestrian bridge. At this time we are still involved in rescue efforts and gathering information,” the statement said.

The $14.2 million (£10.2m) bridge crossed a seven-lane road that divided the university’s campus from the city of Sweetwater. The 950-ton span was installed on Saturday to great fanfare. The main part of the 174-foot span was assembled by the side of the road before being moved into place.

The “accelerated bridge construction” method was supposed to reduce risks to workers and pedestrians and minimise traffic disruption, the university said. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” FIU president Mark B Rosenberg said on Saturday.

The National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to the scene. Governor Rick Scott tweeted that he was heading there as well.

“I will be in constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day,” the governor said. MCM, the Miami-based construction management firm that won the bridge contract, took its website down yesterday. But an archived version of the website featured a news release touting the project.

“This our first Design-build with FIGG Bridge Engineers, anationallyacclaimed,awardwinning firm based out of Tallahassee. FIGG has designed iconic bridges all over the country, including Boston’s famous Leonard P Zakim Bridge and Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge.”

MCM said on Twitter that it was “a family business and we are all devastated and doing everything we can to assist. We will conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way”.

A message left at FIGG’S office in Tallahassee was not immediately returned.

Florida International University is the second-largest university in the state.