Only minor injuries were reported Thursday evening in a bridge collapse in Washington state. The accident happened around 7 p.m. at the Interstate 5 bridge about 60 miles north of Seattle. Authorities say three people were injured when two cars plunged into the Skagit River along with part of the bridge.
It was initially assumed that the bridge crumbled on its own, but authorities later confirmed the collapse was the result of an 18-wheeler’s oversized load striking an upper beam of the superstructure. The truck made it off of the bridge and the driver waited at the scene for police. The driver was questioned but not taken into custody.
A Federal Highway Administration database had the bridge listed as “functionally obsolete” for its old design structure. The bridge, which was built in 1955, was last inspected in November and some repairs were performed. "It's an older bridge that needs a lot of work just like a good number of bridges around the state," said Washington transportation secretary Lynn Peterson.
"We wouldn't be having drivers drive on this bridge if we thought there were any concerns whatsoever," added Washington Department of Transportation spokesman Dave Chesson.
The accident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Washington police and the highway department.
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