Bridge collapse in Mississippi claims 3 lives, 4 critical
On Wednesday, the Mississippi Department of Transportation reported a construction disaster that occurred on State Route 149 in Simpson County. At least three people have died in the bridge collapse during demolition work.
7:19 AM EDT, October 17, 2024
On Wednesday afternoon, the bridge collapsed during demolition near Jackson, Mississippi. According to media reports, at least three people died in the disaster, and four remain in critical condition.
As announced by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) in an official press release, the collapsed bridge spanned the Strong River. It was located on State Route 149 in Simpson County, about 40 miles south of Jackson.
The crossing has been closed to traffic since September 18. T.L. Wallace Construction was awarded construction and assembly work related to its reconstruction. The company’s employees are likely the victims of the disaster.
Construction disaster in the United States
MDOT spokeswoman Anna Ehrgott revealed that one of the department's inspectors was on-site during the disaster. The inspector's role in the incident has not yet been clearly explained, and the investigation is ongoing. The victims of the accident have not been identified yet.
According to information provided by the American station ABC News, there are no additional details regarding the incident. It is also unknown what exactly caused the bridge to collapse.
