Frightening incident close to home

By Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
Johannesburg, South Africa
October 14, 2015 11:06am CST
Our radio is reporting a horrific accident in my city this afternoon. A temporary pedestrian bridge over a nearby highway collapsed onto the highway below killing two and injuring 20 others. Of those injured, four or five are said to be in critical condition. My normal route doesn't pass that bridge, but I go that way a few times a month and was due to pass under that bridge on Saturday afternoon. For now my biggest concern is that nobody I know was involved in this incident.
The scaffolding of a pedestrian bridge under construction in Sandton has collapsed.
13 people like this
9 responses
AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
14 Oct 15
We have a pedestrian bridge that is part of the nature trail that used to be the railroad tracks. The Boy walks over it several times a week. I never have liked the idea. What a terrible accident!
4 people like this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
14 Oct 15
@Rollo1 The one you're talking about is probably more solid and no cause for worry. This one was a temporary structure they put up until they could build a permanent bridge.
2 people like this
jaishankar
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
15 Oct 15
@Gina145,That's so shocking!! Recently a man crossing the railway tracks that pass from near my house was ran over by a goods train.
3 people like this
jaishankar
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
16 Oct 15
@Gina145 Exactly.Now when I am typing this comment,I don't know what terrible incidents are taking place around me and with whom.
1 person likes this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
16 Oct 15
@else34 That's a terrible thing to happen too. There always seems to be a disaster of some sort happening somewhere.
3 people like this
purplealabaster
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
14 Oct 15
That is indeed terrifying! It makes it worse when it is a place that you normally go, because it is natural to think "what if I was there when it happened". I feel sorry for the people that lost their lives and their loved ones, and I hope that the others make a full recovery.
3 people like this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
14 Oct 15
@purplealabaster That thought did cross my mind, but I only go that way a few times a month, so it was unlikely I'd be there. I'm more worried about people I know who live nearer to that part of highway and have to drive that way every day. And like you I really feel for those who were killed or injured. Even if they're strangers, their lives are just as important.
3 people like this
Kevin
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
28 Oct 15
Glad no one you know was involved.
2 people like this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
28 Oct 15
Thanks @kevin1877uk.
Shannon
@fawkes62 (1276)
• United States
15 Oct 15
That would be frightening, it's a good thing you weren't there when it collapsed. Hopefully no one you know was there either and my thoughts go out to those that were involved.
2 people like this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
16 Oct 15
Thanks @fawkes62 . I don't think anyone I know was there, but no names have been given yet.
3 people like this
KnehKnah
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
17 Oct 15
This is sad. Temporary bridges, I understand, have a load limit. Was it possible that there was an overload on it?
2 people like this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
23 Oct 15
@KnehKnah That's just a suggestion. Nobody knows for sure yet.
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
22 Oct 15
@KnehKnah Actually I gather that it was a different bridge from the one I thought and was still being built, so I don't think that there could have been an overload. So far nobody seems to know what caused it to collapse though some people have blamed strong winds.
2 people like this
KnehKnah
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
22 Oct 15
@Gina145 Strong winds caused it to collapse? OM!
1 person likes this
Beatburn
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
3 Nov 15
Just discovered this post now, a terrible accident. I hope those who have been injured have recovered.
1 person likes this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
3 Nov 15
@Beatburn I hope so to. The newspaper never seems to report what happens afterwards, so I don't know how they are.
amnabas
@amnabas (14169)
• Karachi, Pakistan
14 Oct 15
Ohhh that's horrifying I pray for goid health of injured ones.
2 people like this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
14 Oct 15
@amnabas Me too, but I'm not sure they'll all make it.
1 person likes this
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Oct 15
How awful. Those "temporary" structures need close safety inspection.
1 person likes this
Gina
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
30 Oct 15
@JamesHxstatic They sure do. It's over two weeks now, and it seems they still don't know what went wrong.
1 person likes this