Three Dead in Mississippi Bridge Collapse

A tragic incident occurred yesterday when a Mississippi bridge collapsed, killing three construction workers and seriously injuring four others. The accident happened as crews were preparing the structure for demolition.

The bridge over the Strong River on State Route 149 in Simpson County had been closed since September 18 as part of a replacement project, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) in a news release. The bridge gave way, causing workers to fall nearly 40 feet, according to Simpson County coroner Terry Tutor in an interview with the New York Times.

The crew was part of T.L. Wallace Construction, the contractor responsible for demolishing the bridge, according to MDOT. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a social media post Wednesday that the Federal Highway Administration was “engaging state officials concerning” the “premature collapse during demolition of a bridge on State Route 149 in Mississippi.”

MDOT spokesperson Anna Ehrgott stated that the agency would share more information as it became available. The agency also said one of its inspectors was present at the work site when the bridge collapsed.

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