At least one person died and six were taken to hospitals after a pedestrian bridge collapsed at Florida International University today.
At least eight vehicles were still trapped at 4 p.m. Eastern.
WATCH LIVE COVERAGE FROM THE SCENE
A spokeswoman with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told CNN there were multiple injuries.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is being briefed on the incident by Miami-Dade County Police Chief Juan Perez, according to a schedule released by his office.
Ricardo Dejo, an FIU civil engineering student, told CNN he saw cars pinned beneath the bridge. "I can't describe it," Dejo said. "We were really excited about the bridge. Everything looked fine. I went underneath it with my own car and it looked great."
In a statement, the university said it was "shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge."
"At this time we are still involved in rescue efforts and gathering information," the statement continued. "We are working closely with authorities and first responders on the scene."
The bridge was just installed Saturday. According to a fact sheet about the bridge on FIU's website, it cost $14.2 million to build and was funded as part of a $19.4 million grant from the US Department of Transportation.
It was designed to withstand the strength of a Category 5 hurricane, the fact sheet said, and was supposed to last for more than 100 years.
This is the scene at @FIU after bridge collapse. Police moving media away “just in case the rest falls down.” @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/wqurS5IZTQ
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
This is the scene at @FIU. First responders are trying to see if drivers are responsive. @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/cLuI54M1Ep
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
Just spoke with the President of @FIU, Mark Rosenberg, regarding the collapsed pedestrian bridge and offered to help in any way I can and I'm calling Sec. of Transportation Chao to ask the NTSB to investigate what went wrong. https://t.co/hnFYiesOTp
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) March 15, 2018
