At least 6 injured when pedestrian bridge collapsed in northeast Washington DC

A pedestrian bridge collapsed over the DC highway – 295, blocking all lanes and trapping a truck carrying 500 gallons of diesel, reported authorities

Photo: DC Fire and EMS @dcfireems / Courtesy

A crash caused a pedestrian bridge to collapse in DC – 100 in Northeast Washington, DC on Wednesday , leaving at least five people injured and trapping a truck that leaked gallons of diesel fuel in drains, officials say, reported NBC Boston .

Five people who were in the vicinity were taken to hospitals with injuries, said the mayor Public Safety Deputy Chris Galdart. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

The impact of a collision collapsed the bridge at 11: 54 am and caused even more accidents.

Update bridge collapse I – 295 prior to Polk St NE. 6 patients assessed, 4 of those were transported. # DCsBravest Hazmat unit mitigating diesel fuel leak from truck that is partially beneath bridge. At least 1 other vehicle was struck by debris. Collapse blocks both directions. pic.twitter.com/wILXGs1zWe

– DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems)

June 14, 2021

Researchers from the Police are at the scene of the accident trying to determine the cause of the initial accident, Geldart said.

Everything we see at the scene of the accident right now leads to this it’s a collision that pulled the bridge out of its moor, “Geldart said, adding that those are preliminary deductions. “We believe this was caused by the collision.”

Expected several miles from DC – 295 are closed until 10 pm on Thursday, while officials rebuild the crash and clean up the wreckage, but that the timeline could change, Geldart said.

“Avoid the area,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I am very grateful for our first responders who got here very quickly.”

Authorities are investigating whether a truck hit the bridge, which Geldart estimates is 14 feet tall.

The crashed truck was partially trapped under the rubble and leaked some 25 gallons of diesel fuel in nearby drains.

A hazardous materials team put in a substance to absorb the diesel and mitigate the risk to waterways, said a spokesman for the DC Department of Energy and Environment

The Department DC Energy and Environment Department initially said the truck was carrying 500 gallons of fuel.

Debris, including concrete and metal fence slabs, was seen piled up on the truck at one end of the bridge, which appeared to have been completely separated from a ladder and from a platform.

A car near the bridge had a smashed windshield and a bent roof.