Three individuals lost their lives, and four others sustained serious injuries on Wednesday when a bridge in Mendenhall, Mississippi, collapsed unexpectedly. The tragic incident occurred on State Route 149 over the Strong River in Simpson County, approximately 40 miles south of Jackson. The bridge had been closed to traffic since September 18 as part of a scheduled replacement project by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Governor Tate Reeves confirmed the fatalities and injuries in a social media post, acknowledging the swift response of first responders and state resources to the scene. The Federal Highway Administration, represented by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, expressed concern over the premature collapse during the demolition process.
Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins reported that three individuals lost their lives, while four others were critically injured in the collapse. According to Simpson County Coroner Terry Tutor, a group of seven workers was engaged in dismantling the bridge using heavy machinery when the structure gave way, sending them plummeting nearly 40 feet.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation assured the public that more information would be shared as it becomes available. An inspector from the department was present at the site during the collapse and fortunately remained unharmed.
Efforts to reach the construction company, T.L. Wallace Construction, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. Investigations into the cause of the bridge collapse are expected to be conducted to determine the factors leading to this tragic event.
