WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — Three people were injured Wednesday afternoon after a bridge in West Virginia collapsed into the waterway.
The call came in around 1:45 p.m. local time after residents in Wheeling heard what they described as a “very loud, thunderous boom.”
Multiple departments arrived on scene to find the Washington Avenue Bridge had collapsed.
Upon arrival, first responders immediately began rescue operations for three people who were working on the structure at the time of the accident. They were all safely evacuated and transported to Wheeling Hospital.
One person sustained serious injuries, and two others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The Washington Avenue Bridge closed last month as part of a demolition project overseen by the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Dismantling of the structure began Monday, according to Philip Stahl, the City of Wheeling’s public information officer.
The fire department responded as well as the police department, emergency management, the sheriff’s office, city officials all working in collaboration to figure out how to get the individuals trapped below onto the roadway to be transported to the hospital. We were able to do that pretty quickly. So, at this point, the contractor here along with the division of highways are going to be working to figure out how to remove the existing bridge from the waterway and clean that up and continue the demolition safely.”
Philip Stahl | Public Information Officer, City of Wheeling
According to a social media post from the West Virginia Department of Transportation, an excavator and a dump truck were on top of the bridge deck when the superstructure collapsed. dropping that section of the bridge into the water below.
WVDOH spokesperson Brent Walker provided NewsNation affiliate WTRF with a statement that said in part:
The city-owned bridge was closed and being demolished for a replacement project WVDOH is administering as part of the federal off-system bridge program. The steel superstructure is currently in the water, but the remaining deck and construction equipment are above water.”
Brent Walker | WVDOH Spokesperson
First responders were able to clear the scene around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Crews were working on a full replacement project due to the aging structure of the city-owned bridge.
The closure is expected to remain in place until early October, according to state officials.
According to WVDOT, Merlo Inc. is serving as the contractor.