A pedestrian bridge collapses onto a roadway in the District of Columbia, injuring several persons.
On Wednesday, a pedestrian bridge collapsed in Washington, DC, injuring several persons.
According to tweets from DC Fire and EMS, a pedestrian bridge collapsed onto Interstate 295 in Washington, DC midday Wednesday, injuring multiple persons and closing the freeway in both directions.
The agency announced in a tweet that the bridge fell near Kenilworth Avenue and Polk Street NE. Four people were sent to the hospital, but the agency said there were no indications of anyone being trapped in the debris.
DC Fire and EMS images and CNN station WJLA overhead pictures reveal that one side of the bridge collapsed onto I-295 southbound, while the northbound side of the bridge remains mostly linked to an elevated platform.
DC Fire and EMS shared this photo of the collapsed bridge’s aftermath.
The highway is strewn with mangled concrete and metal debris, and the bridge is perched atop many vehicles.
On Wednesday, firefighters investigated the situation.
Update bridge collapse I-295 prior to Polk St NE. 6 patients assessed, 4 of those were transported. #DCsBravest Hazmat unit mitigating diesel fuel leak from truck that is partially beneath bridge. At least 1 other vehicle was struck by debris. Collapse blocks both directions. pic.twitter.com/wILXGs1zWe
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) June 23, 2021
A hazmat unit was on scene containing a diesel fuel leak from a truck half submerged beneath the bridge, and at least one other vehicle was damaged by debris, according to DC Fire and EMS.
According to a tweet from the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination, all lanes on I-295 north of Benning Avenue are closed (MATOC). As of 1 p.m. ET, northbound lanes were experiencing delays of approximately 3 miles, while southbound lanes were experiencing delays of around 1.5 miles, MATOC reported.
#Chopper4 #Breaking: #dctraffic 295 Kenilworth Avenue Anacostia Freeway is CLOSED in Northeast DC for the PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE south of Eastern Ave, between Polk and Douglass streets, only minor injuries reported – tune in to @nbcwashington now! #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/ODd0xyAqxA
— ʙʀᴀᴅ ꜰʀᴇɪᴛᴀꜱ (@Chopper4Brad) June 23, 2021
According to department spokesperson Alaina Gertz, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department is in the early phases of investigating the reason of the collapse.
JUST IN: Pedestrian bridge in #DC collapses over I-295, 4 taken to hospital, @7NewsDC rpts: https://t.co/G9gXMLmmGw
— Mark Albert (@malbertnews) June 23, 2021
