A newly installed 950-ton
pedestrian bridge serving
Miami's
Florida International University collapsed Thursday, crushing several vehicles on a busy, multi-lane highway below and injuring multiple people.
Live TV reports showed several people loaded onto ambulances immediately after the collapse. The Miami-Dade Fire Department tweeted that multiple people were injured. "We working on confirming numbers," it added.
“There are several fatalities,” Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alex Camacho told The Sun Sentinel. “There are five to six vehicles underneath that are crushed.”
The fire department said rescue teams were "currently securing the structure while continuing to search for patients."
The main part of the $14.2 million structure, which was only installed Saturday, spanned 174 feet. It was scheduled to open in early 2019 to provide access to the university over a seven-lane highway from newer dorms and off-campus housing.
FIU spokesperson Maydel Santana-Bravo said the university community was "shocked and saddened about the tragic events." The school is currently on spring break.
Gov. Rick Scott tweeted that he was on his way to the scene.
“I will be in constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day,” the governor said.