Three workers killed after section of Mississippi bridge collapsed ahead of demolition: officials

A section of a Mississippi bridge that was about to be demolished collapsed prematurely, killing three workers, officials said.

The bridge, which spanned the Strong River in Simpson County at State Route 149, was closed to traffic for a months-long replacement project. The project’s contractor was demolishing the bridge when part of it collapsed Wednesday afternoon, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said.

Three workers were killed and four others injured in the collapse, the department confirmed Thursday. The workers were employees of TL Wallace Construction, the contractor on the project.

“MDOT would like to express our sincere thanks to all who courageously responded to this accident, and we extend our deepest condolences to the affected families,” the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in a statement.

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TL Wallace Construction identified the three murdered employees as Charles Badger, Kevin Malone and Charles Igleharte.

“At this time, we ask for prayers and support for the families and loved ones of the deceased,” the company said in a statement, adding that it is committed to providing relief to the affected families. “Our thoughts go out to them at this incredibly difficult time.”

The cause of the collapse is unknown at this time, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

TL Wallace Construction said it is “fully cooperating with the investigation to understand how this tragedy occurred.”

A Mississippi Department of Transportation inspector who was on the job site when the bridge collapsed was uninjured, the department said.

The bridge had been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 and was demolished as part of a $25 million project to replace four bridges along State Route 149, the department said.

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According to previous statements from the department, the replacement project was estimated to take 12 to 18 months.

The project is currently on hold until an investigation can be completed, which could impact the project’s timeline, the department said Thursday.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday that he had been notified of the premature collapse and that the Federal Highway Administration was “involving state officials in this incident.”

“Our thoughts are with the workers who were injured and lost their lives, and with their families,” he said.

Three workers killed after section of Mississippi bridge collapses ahead of demolition: Officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com