Breaking News !!

[iceman]

I-35W Bridge Collapse Into Mississippi River
 
(WCCO) Minneapolis The Interstate 35W Mississippi River bridge near University Avenue has collapsed into the river.

Both the northbound and southbound lanes of 35W are lying in the Mississippi River.

There are multiple cars in the river and a couple cars on fire. According to one witness, there was a school bus full of children on the bridge.

Cars are still on the bridge.

Tons of concrete have collapsed and people are injured. Survivors are being carried up the riverbank.

Some people are stranded on parts of the bridge that aren't completely in the water.

A tractor-trailer is on fire at the collapse scene.

Some cars are still precariously perched on the bridge. Sections of the bridge are mangled, some are pointing up in the air and some are in the river.

"My truck got completely torn in half," said a witness who was on the bridge when it collapsed. "The bridge started shaking and it went down fast."

"It is just horrific," said witness Marilyn Franzen, who saw the bridge collapse. Franzen said she saw a school bus that managed to stop before the going over the edge of the bridge that she said was carrying 20-30 children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old.

According to witnesses, cars are crushed and mangled under the bridge where it collapsed onto the shore of the river. Street signs also crushed cars.

The road has been under construction since the beginning of the summer.

[Realtree]

Our hearts go out to everyone who is or has family that is involved in this horrible event. I just cannot believe what I am seeing on the television right now with this situation.....

[iceman]

yea i know scott ..

prayers sent from northern minnesota too..


here's a few pic's from wcco tv web site..

http://wcco.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_213194533

[Pete]

I just heard about this during the Twins game. I'm watching CNN right now.

Here's some pics.

Before:

[holdemtwice]

pray for all involved !!! this is a most disturbing site.



  ht

[JohnWester]

thoughts and prays go out to all who are involved.

[Realtree]

I just found out that Outdoors_Junkies sister had just traveled over this bridge about 10 minutes before this horrific event took place while on her way to the Twins game tonight. I still cannot believe what I am seeing as the pictures and videos continue to be shown on the local news channels...I am speechless right now. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in the events of today. The brighter side of this story is seeing and hearing from all of the average working people who have jumped in to help out in this situation wherever they can to get survivors to medical facilities as well as to help the police and rescue workers control on lookers and gawkers so that the emergency personnel can do their jobs and assist those who are in need.

[GirlGuide]

My thoughts and prayers are going out to all who are involved in this horrible accident, including all the families that are waiting to hear if their loved ones are okay.  My husband just went over this bridge about an hour before it happened!  How scary, it sure makes you wish there was something you could do to help.  I'll be praying for everyones safetly!  gg

[Mayfly]

I heard about this on the way to the Twins Game tonight. I also found out that bowhunter73's wife was on the bridge when it collapsed. If this link works I believe that the black SUV is hers. Talk about lucky!

http://wcco.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_213194533/view?slide=22

[Realtree]

I heard about this on the way to the Twins Game tonight. I also found out that bowhunter73's wife was on the bridge when it collapsed. If this link works I believe that the black SUV is hers. Talk about lucky!

http://wcco.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_213194533/view?slide=22

I sure hope she is ok Tim! Has anyone talked to bowhunter73 to find out how she is doing?

[Grute Man]

Im praying for everyone involved in this.  I truly hope bowhunter73s wife is ok.

Prayers out for his family.

Grute

[Mayfly]

She is ok......

[bowhunter73]

  Hi MNO

  I just wanted to thank you for your thoughts and prayers. My wife Kristin is fine so now that my first prayers were answered we are shifting are thoughts to all of the other families that may not have as good of an ending.

 we have some pics that she took from the bridge when she was on it ( the middle part in the water ) I will try to post them tomorrow

                            Thanks again and go hug your family NOW
                                              Scott

[rchaze60]

I am so glad she is one of the lucky ones God Bless you and your family I drove by  there last night and it was such a horrible feeling knowing that there are people missing and in the water I just hope they  aree able to get into the water and get them out


 LIFE IS SHORT SO ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF WITH YOUR FAMILY and ALWAYS REMEMBER to TELL THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM cause it may be the last time.

[Mayfly]

Hey look...its bowhunter73 and his wife:

http://www.startribune.com/10204/story/1344530.html

[jigglestick]

this is a email I got from my friend Dana (perch destroyer's) wife.
they live in fairmont. Dana has been coming ice fishing on red lake with me for the last 6 or 7 years and we go pheasant hunting down by his place every fall. Dr. Bob has been there with us too.

       Hi all,
 
Hope all is well with you.
 
Saw the front page of our local paper today and realized that our next door neighbor's daughter is one of the critically injured people from the bridge collapse. She had brain surgery already to relieve some swelling, and today she is having her spine operated on. She is in a medically induced coma. Her whole family of 4 suffered broken backs. I guess they had "made it across" the bridge as it started to fall, but their back wheels weren't safely up on the top, so they slid off and flipped over upside down, and that's how they landed. I don't know if they were in the river or not. Their names are Brad and Paula Coulter, if you should happen to see names on TV.
 
What a sad week for Mpls. and all of MN.
 
Sandy
...........................................

the paving forman where I work, his brother inlaw works for PCI. he was working on the bridge when it went down. he said he and his co-workers felt a rumble, then loud noise and everybody scrambled. he went one way and made it to safety. one co-worker ran the other and did not.


this all tells me, that we are all fragile. we take life for granted. we can not decide when we are going to check out. that is out of our hands. when our time comes, that's it. it's all over, period.
live life, enjoy life, and share life.

[GirlGuide]

What a scary thing for your wife to have to go through Bowhunter..I am sooooo glad that she is safe and home with you now.  Thank God she was one of the lucky ones!!  My thoughts are still with you both, as I am sure I speak for everyone here at MNO.  gg

[ScottPugh]

Hey look...its bowhunter73 and his wife:

http://www.startribune.com/10204/story/1344530.html

That's what I meantioned to my wife when I read teh paper yesterday AM.  They said SUV and middle of the bridge and I put two and two together.  Glad to see she made it out in good health.