A tragic accident unfolded in Mississippi on Wednesday when a bridge collapsed during demolition, killing three workers and leaving several others seriously injured. The bridge had been closed for nearly a month as part of a replacement project, but something went terribly wrong.
At a Glance:
- A bridge over the Strong River in Simpson County, Mississippi, collapsed during demolition, killing three workers and injuring several others.
- The victims have been identified as Kevin Malone, Charles Igleharte, and Charles Badger.
- Authorities, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, are investigating the premature collapse.
Three men tragically lost their lives, and multiple others were critically injured when a bridge in Simpson County, Mississippi, gave way as crews were preparing it for demolition. The bridge over the Strong River on State Route 149 had been closed since mid-September, but on Wednesday, workers were using heavy machinery to tear it down when disaster struck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGtGscO8frY
The victims of the collapse were identified as Kevin Malone, 72, of Hattiesburg, Charles Igleharte, 22, of Foxworth, and Charles Badger. Seven men were on the bridge when it plummeted nearly 40 feet, according to Simpson County Coroner Terry Tutor.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed the fatalities and said first responders were on the scene along with state assets. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also weighed in, stating that the Federal Highway Administration was in communication with state officials to investigate the cause of the premature collapse.
The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office reported that in addition to the three fatalities, four others were critically injured in the collapse. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has promised to release further information as the investigation continues. An MDOT inspector was present at the site when the bridge fell, but fortunately, they were unharmed.
This horrific incident has raised serious questions about safety procedures and what might have caused the deadly collapse during what should have been a routine demolition. Families of the victims, coworkers, and the community are left grieving as authorities work to uncover how this tragedy occurred.
