Several killed after Florida college campus bridge collapses

Several people were killed when a bridge under construction on a Florida college campus collapsed Thursday, crushing a number of cars underneath, authorities said.

The 950-ton pedestrian bridge, meant to connect the Florida International University campus with a nearby Miami suburb, caved in just before 2 p.m., pinning eight cars below, according to investigators.   

"There are several fatalities," Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alex Camacho told the Daily News. "I just don’t know how many yet."  

Eight people were rushed to nearby hospitals after the collpase, Miami fire officials said. It was not immediately known what caused the bridge to cave or how many people were trapped in the rubble.  

The 950-ton pedestrian bridge, meant to connect the Florida International University campus with a nearby Miami suburb, caved in just before 2 p.m. (DANIEL A. VARELA/TNS)

More than 100 rescue workers with search dogs and special microphones were looking for survivors, fire officials said. 

Florida Gov. Rick Scott tweeted that he's traveling to FIU Thursday afternoon. 

FIU, which has more than 50,000 enrolled students, said school officials are working "closely" with first responders. 

"We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding," the university said in a statement. 

The $14.2 million, 289-foot-long pathway was installed last Saturday using the Accelerated Bridge Construction method, an expedited technique that has never been used for a project this large.

University President Mark Rosenberg boasted that the project is the "first-of-its-kind," touting it as an "instant bridge."  

Vehicles are crushed under the collapsed bridge.  (JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES)

"FIU is about building bridges and student safety," Rosenberg said in a statement. "This project accomplishes our mission beautifully."  

FIGG Engineering, the Pennsylvania-based construction company working on the bridge, pledged to "cooperate with every appropriate authority in reviewing what happened and why."  

"In our 40-year history, nothing like this has ever happened before," the company said in a statement. "Our entire team mourns the loss of life and injuries associated with this devastating tragedy, and our prayers go out to all involved.”

First-of-its-kind pedestrian bridge “swings” into place. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” -President Mark B. Rosenberg. https://t.co/x8gPM9A4DG#worldsaheadpic.twitter.com/mPEMeh2zmw

— FIU (@FIU) March 10, 2018

Construction on the footbridge was expected to be completed early next year.   

The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the bridge collapse Thursday afternoon. 

The bridge was designed as a safe route for students commuting between FIU's Modesto A. Maidique campus and the small city of Sweetwater, where an estimated 4,000 students live.

Faculty and students began calling for a pedestrian bridge after an 18-year-old freshman was killed trying to cross the busy seven lane-highway last August. 

The ABC technique, which was introduced about 10 years ago, has proven extremely effective, but experts say it can be perilous. 

"The idea is that you can build small- to mid-size bridges very quickly — sometimes within hours," said Amjad Aref, a researcher at the University of Buffalo's Department of Engineering. "But until all the pieces are put together to transmit the loads safely to the foundations, these bridges may suffer disproportionate or full collapse due to instability...They are really vulnerable to collapsing."

- ny news