One of the most common things that we do most days is also one of the most dangerous. Unless you live in a city with a sufficient public transportation system, you most likely drive a car or use services that involve riding in a car. We don’t think much about it at the time, but riding around in a vehicle that weighs a thousand pounds or more, on the roads with countless others that are doing the same thing just feet from one another, seems like a recipe for disaster.
Cars and other vehicles are being built to be safer, and there are all kinds of unique features to prevent accidents and protect drivers and passengers in the event of a crash. But, unfortunately, not every situation can be avoided or mitigated with these features. Sometimes a tragic accident cannot be avoided.
Recently, a newly constructed pedestrian bridge near Miami, Florida collapsed onto the highway below, killing six people. The Florida International University bridge was still under construction, and several workers were on the structure at the moment of the collapse.
The bridge was built to prevent deaths, as pedestrians from the university often tried to cross the busy road. The bridge was also engineered to withstand category five hurricanes that are known to batter the area during hurricane season. There has been no official word regarding the cause of the accident.
“Do I worry about the image of the university? Every breathing moment,” FIU’s president, Mark B. Rosenberg, said in an interview. “But the response that we’ve gotten from around the country has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s not the time now to be worried about our image.”
Our thoughts go out to the families and those affected.
Watch the harrowing video below and please be aware that the footage may be disturbing.
