Three dead, four injured in Mississippi bridge collapse, sheriff says

MENDEHALL, Miss. (AP) – Three people were killed and four seriously injured Wednesday when a bridge in Mississippi that was closed nearly a month ago collapsed while a work crew was preparing it for demolition, authorities said.

The Strong River bridge on State Route 149 in Simpson County, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) 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 statement with press release.

Gov. Tate Reeves said in a social media post late Wednesday that county first responders and “other state forces were on scene at the tragedy,” where they confirmed at least three fatalities and several injured.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a social media post late Wednesday that the Federal Highway Administration was “engaging state officials regarding” the “premature collapse during the demolition of a bridge on State Route 149 in Mississippi.”

Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins said WLBT TV Three people were killed and four seriously injured.

Terry Tutor, the Simpson County coroner, told the New York Times that seven men were working on the bridge and using heavy machinery to demolish it when it gave way and fell nearly 40 feet (12 meters). He said three of the men died and four were injured Times reported.

Mullins and Tutor did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press on Wednesday evening.

A call to contractor TL Wallace Construction went unanswered Wednesday evening and it was not possible to leave a message.

Transportation Department spokeswoman Anna Ehrgott said the agency would “share more information with the public as it becomes available.”

The agency said one of its inspectors was at the site when the bridge collapsed and that person was uninjured.