Collapsed Cincinnati bridge was undergoing demolition

A sizable section of a bridge made of concrete and steel collapsed onto an interstate highway in Cincinnati Monday night, Jan. 19. The bridge was undergoing demolition at the time of the collapse, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, and one demolition worker was killed in the incident.

The collapsed bridge had formerly carried Hopple Street across Interstate 75 in northwest Cincinnati. When the section of bridge fell onto the highway at approximately 10:30 Monday night, it fell just in front of a moving truck that would have been crushed if it had traveled just a few feet farther. Interstate 75 in north Cincinnati has been closed and remained closed as of Tuesday morning.

According to the Enquirer report, a demolition crew assigned to take down the Hopple Street bridge was on site at the time of the collapse. The victim was a crew worker who reportedly was on that section of the bridge when it collapsed. His body was recovered several hours after the incident, according to the Enquirer report.

The city of Cincinnati has announced that it will begin an investigation into what caused the collapse.