- Pedestrian bridge linking Florida International University campus with Sweetwater collapsed on Thursday
- US Senator Bill Nelson told a Miami TV station that between six and 10 people were killed
- At least six injured people were evacuated and eight vehicles were trapped in the bridge wreckage
- The 950-ton bridge was installed last Saturday and had not yet been open to pedestrian traffic
- FIU touted the bridge's construction as a huge success since it was installed in just six hours on Saturday
- The bridge wasn't due to be open to foot traffic until early 2019, according to the university
- FIU students had long demanded a bridge because it was too dangerous to cross the Tamiami Trail
- Construction of the bridge cost $14million, which was paid for by the federal government
- FIGG and Munilla Construction, the two companies that collaborated on the bridge, expressed sorrow
Six to 10 people were killed when a newly installed pedestrian bridge spanning several lanes of traffic collapsed at Florida International University on Thursday, US Senator Bill Nelson of Florida told local TV station CBS Miami.
The 174-foot 'instant bridge' hailed as a feat of engineering and safety, was installed Saturday morning but was not due to open to the public until 2019.
At least six injured people were taken away from the scene and eight vehicles were trapped in the bridge wreckage, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in an interview with CBS Miami.
One person was suffering from cardiac arrest, Gimenez said.
Television images captured from helicopter show numerous cars crushed by the weight of the bridge.
Images also show a number of emergency rescue workers crawling along the rubble in an attempt to spot survivors.
Emergency crews are rushing to the scene of a collapsed pedestrian bridge that has reportedly killed 'multiple people' and trapped cars on the campus of Florida International University in Miami
Florida Highway Patrol said at least five cars were trapped underneath the debris as the bridge fell onto Tamiami Trail
Television images captured from helicopter show numerous cars that were crushed by the weight of the bridge
Images show a number of emergency rescue workers crawling along the rubble in an attempt to spot survivors
The bridge, which was installed last Saturday morning, was built to provide pedestrian access from FIU's main campus to an area that houses a number of student residences
The 950-ton span, which was built over Tamiami Trail, was not yet open to pedestrians
The image above shows a victim being wheeled away from the scene of the collapsed bridge
Emergency crews load a victim into a waiting ambulance at the scene
The bridge was built in order to link up Florida International University's campus with a neighborhood that houses students
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It was built to provide pedestrian access from FIU's main campus to an area that houses a number of student residences.
Two workers were replacing something on the side of the bridge when it collapsed, according to CBS Miami.
The 950-ton span, which was built over Tamiami Trail at a cost of $14million, was not yet open to pedestrians. It was scheduled to open sometime early next year.
Rescue workers frantically search for survivors as they stand atop the rubble of the pedestrian bridge
FIU released a statement on Thursday, saying: 'We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge'
Firefighters are seen near the collapsed pedestrian bridge which collapsed onto a busy highway near Miami
Rescue units are seen above near the collapsed bridge, which crushed a number of cars on the Tamiami Trail
The bridge was installed rapidly this past Saturday. FIU touted the speed at which the bridge was constructed
The image above shows damage to a car which was only partially under the bridge on Thursday
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department workers work at the scene of the collapsed bridge. A vehicle which appears to be a white van is seen on the left after it was crushed by the bridge
Horrified onlookers stand at the side of the road as emergency responders work at the scene of the bridge collapse
First responders cross the Tamiami Trail as rescue workers look for survivors of the collapsed bridge near Miami
Tamiami Trail is considered a busy roadway, and the bridge was built in order to accommodate students who were fearful of crossing the highway.
Miami-Dade County Emergency Management confirmed the collapse and urged the public to avoid the area near SW 8th Street and 109th Avenue.
'We thought something fell,' Damany Reed, who witnessed the collapse, told CBS Miami.
'But then we saw the bridge collapse and it was just surreal at that moment. It was very scary.'
'Me and my boyfriend had just driven under the bridge,' witness Isabella Carrasco told CBSN.
'We actually commented on how new it was ... We had heard a loud bang. At first, we thought we had hit something, and when we looked around, we realized the bridge had collapsed. When we looked around we saw that it was much, much worse.'
A Colorado-based engineering firm, BDI, deleted a tweet on Monday that said it was 'thrilled to have provided structural monitoring during a spectacular bridge move'
Lionel Collins, another witness, said he was 'pretty shaken' after he rescued a number of people from their cars.
'After the whole thing broke, I was freaking out,' Collins told CNN.
'I got out of my car and me and a few other people were sprinting over there. We started helping people whose cars were at least half crushed and whoever was easily saved.
'But we couldn't really go under any of the rubble because at the time, the bridge - the other half of the bridge is still kind of leaning upward right now.'
'One girl, her car was literally squished by the bridge from the back,' one witness said.
'So she was able to get out. We were trying to help her. It was very traumatizing.'
FIU released a statement on Thursday, saying: 'We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge.
'At this time we are still involved in rescue efforts and gathering information.'
The bridge and its support towers took months to construct, according to the Miami Herald.
The main body of the span was assembled along the side of the Tamiami Trail, with support towers built at each end.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the bridge was then lifted by special gantry cranes and lowered into place.
The portion of the roadway underneath the bridge was closed for the weekend. It reopened early Monday morning.
A Colorado-based engineering firm, BDI, deleted a tweet on Monday that said it was 'thrilled to have provided structural monitoring during a spectacular bridge move.'
The bridge, which was built at a cost of $14million and was funded by the federal government, was touted by the school as an achievement when it was completed last Saturday.
Planners had envisioned the bridge as a new complex which would provide new sidewalks, a plaza, benches, tables, shade, and Wi-Fi.
The bridge was touted as part of overall efforts to revitalize Sweetwater, a city in Dade County.
FIGG Bridge Engineers, the company that designed the project, said the bridge was not expected to be open to foot traffic until sometime next year. It is seen above before its collapse
'We are stunned by today's tragic collapse of a pedestrian bridge that was under construction over Southwest Eighth Street in Miami,' FIGG Bridge Engineers said in a statement
'We will fully cooperate with every appropriate authority in reviewing what happened and why,' the engineering firm said
The bridge's planning was done at FIU's very own Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center
A computer-generated rendering video depicts the final vision for the bridge, which was to include a resting area as well as Wi-Fi
The bridge was constructed at a cost of $14million and was funded by the federal government
Private developers were also planning to build apartment towers to cater to FIU students, according to the Herald.
'FIU is about building bridges and student safety,' FIU president Mark Rosenberg said on Saturday.
'This project accomplishes our mission beautifully. We are filled with pride and satisfaction at seeing this engineering feat come to life and connect our campus to the surrounding community where thousands of our students live.'
The school and the company which built the bridge boasted of the speed of its construction, which was aimed at reducing the traffic burden on the busy thoroughfare, according to the Miami New Times.
The bridge's planning was done at FIU's very own Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center.
'This [accelerated bridge construction] technique reduced potential risks to workers, commuters and pedestrians and prevented traffic tie-ups in the area,' FIU wrote in a press release from five days ago.
'ABC is a delivery solution method of building and repairing bridges with the capability to reduce the interruption to traffic and increase safety,' the center writes on its web site.
FIGG's partner in the project, Munilla Construction, also released a statement on Thursday
FIGG Bridge Engineers, the Tallahassee-based company that designed the project, said the bridge was not expected to be open to foot traffic until sometime next year.
'We are stunned by today's tragic collapse of a pedestrian bridge that was under construction over Southwest Eighth Street in Miami,' FIGG Bridge Engineers said in a statement.
'Our deepest sympathies are with all those affected by this accident.
We will fully cooperate with every appropriate authority in reviewing what happened and why.
'In our 40-year history, nothing like this has ever happened before.
'Our entire team mourns the loss of life and injuries associated with this devastating tragedy, and our prayers go out to all involved.'
FIGG's partner in the project, Munilla Construction, also released a statement on Thursday.
'Our family's thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy,' Munilla said in a statement.
'The new UniversityCity Bridge, which was under construction, experienced a catastrophic collapse causing injuries and loss of life.
'MCM is a family business and we are all devastated and doing everything we can to assist.
'We will conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way.'
Munilla won the bid to build the bridge, beating out three other companies, according to the Miami New Times.
Both FIGG and Munilla have been accused in years past of unsafe practices.
On March 5, Munilla was sued by a TSA employee at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport who claims that a pedestrian bridge built by the firm collapsed under his weight, sending him falling to the ground.
In June 2012, a bridge built by FIGG in Virginia fell apart during construction, injuring four workers, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
FIU has deleted statements on social media and press releases from earlier this week touting the construction of the bridge.
'This bridge is the result of great support from our congressional delegation and the US Department of Transportation,' FIU Senior Vice President and CFO Kenneth Jessell announced over the weekend.
'This bridge has already been the catalyst for significant economic development in the City of Sweetwater. FIU and our surrounding community will benefit from this project for generations to come.'
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