Tragedy strikes as three killed in Mississippi bridge collapse
The Mississippi Department of Transportation reported on Wednesday a construction disaster that occurred on State Route 149 in Simpson County. At least three people have died as a result of the bridge collapsing during demolition work.
On Wednesday afternoon, a bridge collapsed during demolition near Jackson, Mississippi. According to media reports, at least three people died in the disaster, and four remain in critical condition.
As was announced by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) in an official press release, the bridge that collapsed ran over the Strong River and was located on State Route 149 in Simpson County, about 64 kilometres south of Jackson.
The crossing has been closed to traffic since September 18. T.L. Wallace Construction was awarded construction and assembly work for its reconstruction. The company’s employees are likely the victims of the disaster.
Construction disaster in the United States
A spokesperson for MDOT, Anna Ehrgott, revealed that at the time of the disaster, one of the department's inspectors was present on site. The inspector's role in the incident has not yet been clearly explained, and the investigation is ongoing. The victims of the accident have not been identified yet.
According to information provided by the American station ABC News, at this moment, there are no additional details regarding the incident. It is also unknown what exactly caused the bridge to collapse.
