1 confirmed dead, 1 injured in Ohio overpass collapse
CINCINNATI — An old bridge on Interstate 75 was undergoing demolition late Monday when it collapsed, killing a construction worker and shutting down a stretch of the interstate for what could be days.
The "catastrophic pancake collapse" happened about 10:30 p.m. as a crew prepared for demolition of the old Hopple Street overpass, according to a statement from the City of Cincinnati.
It was part of the old northbound off-ramp to Hopple Street. The new bridge is already open.
As the old bridge collapsed to the ground, a semi-tractor trailer driver crashed into the rubble, police said.
A construction worker was killed. Emergency crews were working early Tuesday to recover his or her body.
The name of that worker has not been released, pending notification of family.
"Crews are working now to determine a plan of action to remove the worker," Cincinnati police said shortly after midnight. "It will be a long operation."
The injured truck driver was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with minor injuries.
"I can tell you that the big-rig driver, the semi driver, is very lucky," said Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell. "In a matter of seconds his fate would have probably been different."
Hundreds of onlookers passed by, and more than two dozen construction workers were at the scene at 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Dispatchers called it a "major" collapse. Officials said they were launching an investigation into the bridge's ratings.
"What appears to have happened is, in essence, an industrial incident, a workplace incident with respect to a construction crew that's doing work out here," city manager Harry Black said. "Something went wrong, and a tragedy has occurred as a result. ... We don't believe that there is any additional loss of life."
Southbound I-75 will be closed for at least 48 hours. The city tweeted: "Plan ahead, leave early, expect delays."
"This will be a mess. It's not could or should. It will be," Blackwell said of the Tuesday morning commute.