The Mississippi Bridge being prepared for demolition collapses, killing three people and injuring four

Three people were killed and four others injured when a bridge being prepared for demolition collapsed in a “workplace accident” in Mississippi on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Governor Tate Reeves posted on X late Wednesday night that the state had confirmed “multiple injuries and at least three fatalities as a result of the accident.” First responders from the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office, state and county emergency management offices and “other state resources” responded to the scene of the bridge collapse, Tate said.

The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office said they received reports of the bridge collapse on Wednesday around 3 p.m., according to a statement. Officers who responded to the scene “discovered that three construction workers were deceased and at least three seriously injured,” the sheriff’s office said.

The three men who died were identified as Kevin Malone, Charles Ingleharte and Charles Badger, according to Simpson County Coroner Terry Tutor. The four injured people were taken to local hospitals, Tutor said.

The bridge, known as the Strong River Bridge, had been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 in preparation for a replacement project, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in a statement. Contractors were actively demolishing the bridge when it collapsed in a “workplace accident,” MDOT said.

MDOT said an inspector overseeing the project was on site during the incident but was unharmed.

The bridge work was part of a larger infrastructure overhaul that was subcontracted to TL Wallace Construction Company.

The bridge was part of State Route 149 over the Strong River, located in south-central Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Jackson.

CNN has contacted TL Wallace Construction Company for comment.

The Strong River Bridge, built in 1935, was among the 3% of Mississippi bridges that were in poor condition overall, former American Society of Civil Engineers President Maria Lehman told CNN on Thursday.

Lehman noted that while Mississippi is effectively managing its aging infrastructure, the overall condition of bridges across the United States is concerning, with many in fair or poor condition. According to a recent report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, nearly 49% of U.S. bridges are considered to be in fair condition, and approximately 6.8% are in poor condition, indicating a significant need for repairs and upgrades throughout the country.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted on X on Wednesday that he had been “informed of the premature collapse during bridge demolition.” He added that the Federal Highway Administration is working with state officials to investigate the incident.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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