Pittsburgh Bridge Collapses, Injuring 10 People.
The Forbes Avenue bridge across Fern Hollow Creek in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park collapsed, trapping several automobiles.
Pittsburgh Collapse, reported by CBS Local
Three people were sent to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital when the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed in Frick Park about 7 a.m.
The fourth person was sent to UPMC Shadyside Hospital for treatment, but was later released. One of the victims was a first responder, at the very least. All were said to be in good shape.
As a chaotic situation unfolded in Point Breeze around the intersection of Forbes and Braddock avenues just before sunrise, search dogs and approximately a dozen NTSB officials were brought in.
Wendy Stroh, a neighbour, reported what she heard.
“It sounded like a colossal snowploughs…” “I’m pressing along the surface because there’s no snow,” she explained. “I had no idea what it was… It was a terrifying experience.”
Mayor Ed Gainey of Pittsburgh posted a dramatic overhead photo from above the collapse site.
The fall involved many cars as well as a Port Authority bus. According to Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones, at least three of the persons sent to hospitals were on the bus at the time of the crash.
Gainey claimed the bridge across Hot Dog Dam Dog Park was recently inspected in September, just hours before President Joe Biden’s scheduled speech in Pittsburgh about his historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan. The inspection’s findings were not immediately available.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated on Twitter that Biden had been informed about the collapse and that his team had contacted state and local officials, including Gainey.
WTAE Reported the incident as,
The collapse, which occurred near the city’s Point Breeze neighbourhood along Forbes and South Braddock avenues, resulted in ten injuries. Four persons were brought to hospitals in the region.
Officials from the Port Authority said one person aboard the bus was checked out at the scene and departed, but two hours later the person complained of injuries and was brought to an area hospital.
The Fern Hollow Bridge, which was destroyed by the collapse, was used by an estimated 14,500 vehicles every day.
Darryl Jones, the chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, said first responders established a human chain to rescue everyone trapped in the collapse approximately 150 feet to safety.
The Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue Team has been dispatched to the scene. The team dug into segments of the bridge to look for hollow spots where someone could be trapped, according to Chief Jones. Dogs were also brought in to help.
“In a half hour, the bridge would have been packed with commuting vehicles travelling back and forth,” Jones added. “It could have been much worse.” No one was killed. I’m sure a lot of folks are disappointed… ‘Do you have any idea how this might have happened?’ It’s being looked into. We’ll do our best to figure it out.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived on the scene on Friday evening to examine the bridge collapse.
“This was absolutely unfortunate,” Homendy added, “and I’m sure those affected are still absorbing it.”
Investigators will descend into the ravine on Saturday, she added, and her team’s focus will be on determining what caused the collapse.
“Our engineering team will check for indicators of stress in the materials that make up the bridge, signs of fracture, and signs of deterioration,” said Dennis Collins, an NTSB investigator.
Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, stated that the incident had a fortunate conclusion in the end.
Article Verified by:
- WTAE: https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-bridge-collapse/38926079
- CBS Pittsburgh: https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2022/01/28/frick-park-bridge-collapse-latest-updates/