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US road bridge collapses into Skagit River, Washington US road bridge collapses into Skagit River, Washington
(about 2 hours later)
A road bridge collapsed into the Skagit river in the north-western US state of Washington after its span was hit by an oversize lorry, said officials.A road bridge collapsed into the Skagit river in the north-western US state of Washington after its span was hit by an oversize lorry, said officials.
Vehicles and people were thrown into the water after part of the Interstate 5 highway crumbled on Thursday evening.Vehicles and people were thrown into the water after part of the Interstate 5 highway crumbled on Thursday evening.
State officials said three people were rescued and there were no fatalities.State officials said three people were rescued and there were no fatalities.
The four-lane bridge is near Mount Vernon, on the main route between the state's main city, Seattle, and the Canadian city of Vancouver.The four-lane bridge is near Mount Vernon, on the main route between the state's main city, Seattle, and the Canadian city of Vancouver.
"For reasons unknown at this point in time the semi [lorry] struck the overhead of the bridge causing the collapse," Washington State Patrol chief John Batiste told an overnight news conference."For reasons unknown at this point in time the semi [lorry] struck the overhead of the bridge causing the collapse," Washington State Patrol chief John Batiste told an overnight news conference.
The lorry was able to drive off the bridge and the driver waited at the scene for police.The lorry was able to drive off the bridge and the driver waited at the scene for police.
'Miracles' A rescue operation swung into action with rescue boats searching for people in the river.
Marcus Deyerin, spokesman for the Northwest Washington Incident Management Team, said three people had been rescued and sent to hospitals in the area. Three people were rescued and sent to hospitals in the area. Two of those were taken to hospital with hypothermia, a spokesman for Skagit County told Reuters.
Two of those rescued were taken to hospital with hypothermia, a spokesman for Skagit County told Reuters.
Dan Sligh, one of those rescued from the water, said the bridge had disappeared in a "big puff of dust".Dan Sligh, one of those rescued from the water, said the bridge had disappeared in a "big puff of dust".
"When the dust hit I saw the bridge start to fall. At that point forward momentum just carried us over and as you saw the water approaching it was just one of those [times when] you hold on as tight as you can and I saw just a white flash and cold water," he said."When the dust hit I saw the bridge start to fall. At that point forward momentum just carried us over and as you saw the water approaching it was just one of those [times when] you hold on as tight as you can and I saw just a white flash and cold water," he said.
"You talk miracles. I don't know what you want to call it. When you're sitting down in the water and there's all that mangled metal and bridge, and you're looking around kind of pinching yourself and realising you're lucky to be alive. It's a pretty amazing day to tell you the truth," added Mr Sligh. "You talk miracles. I don't know what you want to call it. When you're sitting down in the water and there's all that mangled metal and bridge, and you're looking around kind of pinching yourself and realising you're lucky to be alive. It's a pretty amazing day to tell you the truth."
Images showed a section of the bridge in the river with cars partly submerged. In one image taken shortly after the collapse a person was seen sitting on top of a car. He said he dislocated his shoulder in the fall, but popped it back into place. Mr Sligh and his wife were "belly deep in water in the truck", and he said his wife was initially in shock as they waited for help.
A rescue operation swung into action with rescue boats searching for people in the river, after the structure crumbled at about 19:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Thursday.
Helicopter footage showed divers at the scene with several ambulances waiting on the riverbank. Floodlights were brought in as darkness fell.Helicopter footage showed divers at the scene with several ambulances waiting on the riverbank. Floodlights were brought in as darkness fell.
One rescue boat left the scene with one person strapped into a stretcher.
The Skagit Valley Herald quoted a driver who said he felt a vibration as he crossed the bridge and looked in his rear-view mirror to see that a section was no longer there.The Skagit Valley Herald quoted a driver who said he felt a vibration as he crossed the bridge and looked in his rear-view mirror to see that a section was no longer there.
Traffic was backed up on both sides of the river and crowds of people lined the riverbank to watch the scene unfold. Bridge recently checked
Detours have been put into place around the major thoroughfare 60 miles (96km) north of Seattle.
Highway patrol has advised people to avoid the area if possible, especially over the upcoming bank holiday weekend.
"Thanks to the rescuers and a little bit of luck," said Washington Governor Jay Inslee, after touring the scene, "we had three Skagitonians who made it out of the Skagit River alive."
Washington state Transport Secretary Lynn Peterson said the bridge had been inspected twice last year and had undergone repairs.
While it was not listed as structurally deficient, the bridge was deemed "functionally obsolete" by the Federal Highway Administration - meaning the bridge design is out of date with narrow shoulders and low clearance below.
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team to investigate.
The bridge was built in 1955, according to the website for the National Bridge Inventory Database.The bridge was built in 1955, according to the website for the National Bridge Inventory Database.
The state of some US roads and bridges has long been a source of concern, to everyone from commuters to members of Congress. Its sufficiency rating is 57.4 out of 100 - much lower than the state's average rating of 80, the Associated Press reported.
In March, President Barack Obama urged lawmakers to approve $21bn (£14bn) in spending to improve such infrastructure, describing it as "raggedy". In March, President Barack Obama urged lawmakers to approve $21bn (£14bn) in spending to improve the nation's roads and bridges, describing them as "raggedy".
In the same month, a report card by the American Society of Civil Engineers awarded the nation's infrastructure a D - one grade above failure.In the same month, a report card by the American Society of Civil Engineers awarded the nation's infrastructure a D - one grade above failure.
That was actually a slight improvement on its last appraisal four years ago. But the latest report card noted that there were fewer structurally deficient bridges.
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