The Mississippi Bridge, being prepared for demolition, collapses, killing three people and injuring several others

CNN
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Three people were killed and at least three Others were seriously injured when a bridge being prepared for demolition collapsed in a “construction accident” in Mississippi on Wednesday afternoon, according to authorities.

Gov. Tate Reeves posted on X late Wednesday night that the state had “confirmed multiple injuries and at least three fatalities from the accident.” First responders from the Simpson County Sheriff's Office, state and county emergency management agencies and “other government agencies” were at the scene of the bridge collapse, Tate said.

The According to a statement, the Simpson County Sheriff's Office said reports of the bridge collapse were received Wednesday around 3 p.m. When officers arrived on scene, they “discovered three construction workers deceased and at least three others seriously injured,” the sheriff's office said.

The bridge, known as the Strong River Bridge, has been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 to prepare for a replacement project, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in a statement. According to MDOT, contractors were actively demolishing the bridge when it collapsed in a “construction accident.”

MDOT said an inspector overseeing the project was on site during the incident but was uninjured.

Work on the bridge was part of a larger infrastructure overhaul contracted to TL Wallace Construction Company.

The bridge was part of State Route 149 over the Strong River and was located in south-central Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Jackson.

CNN has reached out to TL Wallace Construction Company for comment.

The Strong River Bridge, built in 1935, was among the 3% of Mississippi bridges that were in overall poor condition, former American Society of Civil Engineers President Maria Lehman told CNN on Thursday.

Lehman noted that while Mississippi effectively manages its aging infrastructure, the overall condition of bridges across the United States is concerning, with many rated as being in good or poor condition. According to a recent report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, nearly 49% of U.S. bridges are considered to be in good condition and approximately 6.8% are considered to be in poor condition, highlighting a significant need for repairs and upgrades across the country.

US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted on X on Wednesday that he had been “informed of the premature collapse during the demolition of a bridge.” He added that the Federal Highway Administration is investigating the incident along with state officials.

This is a developing story and will be updated.