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