35W Bridge Collapse - Videos & Photos

Here are the latest announcements and news regarding the 35W Bridge Collapse tragedy.

• I-35W Emergency Hardship Relief Fund. Those who would like to make claims to the I-35W Emergency Hardship Relief Fund can receive more information by calling the claims help line at 612-766-3920.
• Victim Photos. You can view photos of the 35W Bridge tragedy victims here.
• Latest 35W Bridge News from Star Tribune. The Star Tribune’s latest articles on the 35W bridge incident, subsequent lawsuits, efforts to rebuild the bridge, the status of victims, and the impact on Minnesota can be found here.

“It was the worst thing I’ve seen in my entire life,” recounts one victim of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Over 50 cars plummeted as the bridge collapsed. Cars floated down the river while other vehicles hung from the bridge. Screams echoed across on the river. Emergency workers and bystanders tried to reach the victims. Read more at the Star Tribune.

On Wednesday, August 1, during the evening rush hour, the Interstate 35W bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed.

Within minutes, all Minneapolis television news stations were covering the event. The 5 Eyewitness News helicopter was first to arrive showing the collapsed bridge, vehicles burning, vehicles in the water, injured people laying on the bridge, some people hobbling away, and others helping them.

Minneapolis police and fire rescuers were on the scene almost immediately. The Minneapolis police station is within a mile of the collapsed bridge.

The story is currently being covered by these Minneapolis news outlets:

• Minneapolis Star Tribune
• St. Paul Pioneer Press
• KARE 11 TV News
• FOX 9 TV News
• KMSP 5 Eyewitness News (TV)
• WCCO4 TV News

National news outlets are also covering the bridge collapse story:

• CNN News
• USA Today
• Drudge Report

News reports indicated that a school bus was included in the vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed. A short time later, the bus could be seen from a TV news helicopter. According to news reports, the children were evacuated from the bus. News sources have not yet reported the condition of the children.

UPDATE: The children in the bus have been released from the hospital and reunited with their parents. Read more at KARE 11.

You can see the Minneapolis bridge on Interstate 35W before it collapsed during rush hour Wednesday, August 1, 2007 here: Google Map of 35W Bridge Collapse.

It is no surprise that Minneapolis Police and Fire personnel immediately arrived to help the bridge collapse victims. But it didn’t stop there.

Soon, from across the Twin Cities and its neighboring cities, police and fire personnel came to help. But it didn’t stop there. Volunteer fire fighters joined them.

Even more impressive, private security personnel arrived at the scene to help the bridge collapse victims.

On Wednesday, August 1, 2007, a bridge on Interstate 35-W collapsed. The bridge is located just outside of the downtown area in Minneapolis. As the bridge fell, it was packed with vehicles leaving downtown Minneapolis during rush hour traffic. Many people are expected to have died and been injured. The fatality count has not yet stopped.

Read the latest news and information here: Minneapolis bridge collapse.