At least four people died Thursday when a pedestrian bridge collapsed near Florida International University, Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Dave Downey said.
At least eight cars were crushed under the bridge and at least nine people were transported to hospitals for treatment, authorities said.
“The most important thing we can do right now is pray for the individuals who ended up in the hospital, for their full recovery, and pray for the family members who lost loved ones,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday night.
Scott said the state would do its best to determine if any wrongdoing led to the collapse and, if so, that people would be held accountable.
The bridge’s span was just installed Saturday, an effort to boost safety on a busy street where an FIU student was fatally struck by a vehicle last year.
It is unclear why the bridge, which was still under construction, collapsed onto a busy state highway.
Latest developments
• Downey said the four deceased victims were located but have not been identified.
• Florida International University president Mark Rosenberg said the university followed all the processes required during the building of the bridge, and all contractors are certified by the state.
• Searchers are still looking for victims, although officials don’t know if anyone is trapped alive in the rubble.
• Dr. Mark G. McKenney, trauma medical director at Kendall Regional Medical Center, said his staff received 10 patients, including two who are in critical condition. One patient with severe extremity injuries arrived in a coma, McKenney said.
