Five people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after a pedestrian bridge in “poor condition” collapsed onto a busy Washington, DC. Based on preliminary investigation, the collapse appears to have been caused by a collision.
A diesel fuel truck may have collided with the bridge, causing it to separate from its mooring. Multiple cars were involved in the crash, with five people in those cars transported to local hospitals.
Officials initially said there were no structural concerns with the bridge when it was last inspected in February. However, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chris Geldart later said that they had “misstated the condition” of the bridge.
A May 25 inspection report gave the bridge a rating of “poor condition,” prompting a plan to replace the bridge. However, the bridge still had “good structural integrity,” and the rating was due to the decking, the part of the bridge that people walk over.
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