August 1, 2007
A catastrophic structural fault on 35w bridge that crosses the Mississippi River has caused the bridge to collapse into the river and on to businesses located under the bridge during rush hour.

10:41 PM the reports are that so far 7 people are dead. 38 hurt. Unknown how many people may be missing. Traffic was bumper to bumper and traveling over the bridge on two lanes due to construction. The entire 4 lane road is in the river. The authorities feel that there is not near as many people involved as could have been and the construction cut back how many people could have been on the bridge.

One construction worker is missing. He was part of a 18 man crew. 17 have made it to safety. Three of the 18 were hospitalized. And several others were treated for minor injuries.

The photos, videos and reports are all very disturbing. I have cried. I have prayed. I have made calls. I have relatives who travel this road.

The cell phone towers are so busy with the added calls due to the collapse that they area dropped and/or unable to be used.

This type collapse has haunted me for years. I have feared being in a collapse like this. I have dreamed of being in accidents like this. I have such a fear of bridges collapsing over water, trains going on the bridges and me traveling under it, etc and have had many horrific times traveling. My very close friends and my family know this. I have panic/anxiety attacks if I come to a bridge like the above mentioned. Crying. Letting go of the wheel while driving. And completely freeze, can't move my body, can't breathe, OMG so much more.

So seeing this and hearing about it is so devasted.....A Father frantically swimming in the water trying to locate his son..OMG this pains me so. Family desperately trying to contact their loved ones to confirm their safety. Pregnant woman hauled in to ER by gurney..Lord I pray for her and her unborn child. A young teenand his bus driver took charge and helped get the other 60 kids on the bus out and to safety as it sat on a slab of the collapsed bridge that was on the brink of going into the river..... I can imagine how the many people felt as they sit in traffic on the bridge as the bridge collapsed.

The bridge was built in 1967. Approximately 140,00 people travel on this bridge/road a day.

At 10:52 Minneapolis Fire Chief Jim Clack said the death toll could rise. He said officials could see at least 50 vehicles in the water."We think there are several more vehicles in the river we can't see yet," he said, adding that the likelihood of finding survivors was slim.

News anchors are reporting that they just can't believe that the videos and photos we continue to see is really MPLS, MN...that it looks as though it is somewhere else, some where an earthquake has happened.

Hearing the reporters voices, hearing the fear in their voices...ugh wow.

11:23 Based on the number of people calling in to report their loved ones are not home and unreachable that the State Patrol has concluded that there is now at least 20 people missing.

11:27 Sister of the West family of 4 called in to report that all four of her sisters family members were affected by the collapse. The 2 daughters have back fractures. Father at NM also has fractures to back. Mother has massive head trauma and her condition is very grave.

River search is called off until tomorrow. Almost 70 injured.

Wow. This is surreal. I can't put my thoughts into words right now. I will go to bed with a very heavy heart tonight. I will again pray for all those affected by this tragic collapse. My heart goes out to all. http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_213191448.html