A bridge in Mississippi that was closed a month ago collapsed Wednesday as it was being prepared for demolition, killing three people and seriously injuring several others, authorities said.
The bridge over the Strong River on State Route 149 in Simpson County, about 40 miles south of Jackson, has been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 as part of a bridge replacement project, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in a news release.
Governor Tate Reeves said A post on social media late Wednesday said county and “out-of-state assets responded to the scene of the tragedy,” confirming at least three deaths and multiple injuries.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a social media post late Wednesday that the Federal Highway Administration is “engaging state officials” about a premature collapse during demolition of a bridge on Route 149 in Mississippi.
Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins previously told WLBT-TV that three people were killed and four were seriously injured.
Simpson County Coroner Terry Tutor told The New York Times that seven men were using heavy equipment to tear down the bridge when it collapsed and fell nearly 40 feet. He said three of them were killed and four were wounded, the Times reported.
Mullins and Tutor did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press Wednesday night.
Calls to the construction company, TL Wallace Construction, went unanswered Wednesday evening and a message could not be left.
“As more information becomes available, we will share it with the public,” said Anna Ehrgott, a spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation.
The department said one of its investigators was on the job site when the bridge collapsed and that person was unharmed.