Agency Report
Rescuers formed a human chain to rescue four people from a commuter bus left dangling off the edge of a collapsed bridge in Pittsburgh early Friday.
Photographs from the scene showed the bus – which had three passengers and a driver on board – perched upright on the edge of the bridge. Other rescuers rappelled nearly 150ft to help with the rescue.
The two-lane span, on Forbes Avenue over Fern Hollow Creek in Frick Park, came down around 7a.m, taking multiple vehicles with it.
Authorities reported 10 minor injuries but no fatalities. Three people were taken to the hospital.
The collapse came hours before President Joe Biden was to visit the city to tout his $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which includes bridge maintenance. The White House announced that the visit will go ahead.
It is not yet known what caused the bridge to give out. City officials said the collapse caused a gas leak but the gas has since been shut off.
City officials said the bridge had just been inspected a few months back in September but did not say if there were any issues discovered during that inspection.
The bridge is about a quarter-mile from the Reynolds Street entrance to Frick Park. It goes over a wooded ravine and a creek that are part of the park.
The bridge crosses over a popular walking trail in Frick Park and a popular dog park. People were in the park around the time of the collapse, but authorities have not reported and injuries of people on the trail.
Councilman Corey O’Connor told CBS Pittsburgh that the collapse of the vital bridge could affect traffic in the area for years.
‘This is a vital road, artery, in our area,’ he said. ‘This is a road that a lot of use in the east end, going around the tunnel. We’re looking at a couple-year closure here possibly.’
Neighbour Wendy Stroh, who lives nearby, told CBS Pittsburgh that the collapse sounded like a huge snow plough… pushing along the surface with no snow’. She added: ‘I didn’t know what it was … It was very frightening.’
After reports of a strong smell of gas in the air, a natural gas line was cut and nearby homes were evacuated, Pittsburgh Public Safety said.
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones said three or four vehicles were involved in the collapse and there were 10 minor injuries with three brought to the hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening, Jones said.
Authorities told motorists to avoid the area.
In a statement, the White House said Biden would proceed with his planned trip to Pittsburgh.
‘Our team is in touch with state and local officials on the ground as they continue to gather information about the cause of the collapse,’ the statement said. ‘The President is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time.’
As part of his trip, the president will visit the research and development hub of Mill 19, which was part of the infrastructure deal passed by Congress last year. (Mail Online)
