Italy’s Leader Demands Safe Roads; Bridge Toll Rises To 43

By FRANCES D’EMILIO and PAOLO SANTALUCIA , Associated Press . GENOA, Italy (AP) — Italy’s president demanded guarantees Saturday that all the nation’s roads are safe following the Genoa highway bridge collapse, after he hugged and comforted mourners at a state funeral in the grieving port city. President Sergio Mattarella spoke quietly to victims’ families…

Bridge Collapse Victim’s Uncle Rages At ‘Incompetence’

By JENNIFER KAY and ALLEN G. BREED, Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — As crews began removing bodies from beneath a collapsed pedestrian bridge Saturday, a victim’s uncle raged against what he called the “complete incompetence” and “colossal failure” that allowed people to drive beneath the unfinished concrete span. “Why they had to build this monstrosity in…

Bridge Collapse Puts Spotlight On Rapid Building Technique

By JASON DEAREN, Associated Press As the 950-ton concrete bridge section was swung into place over a highway last weekend, Florida International University officials were beaming with pride. The pedestrian bridge on the edge of the Miami-area campus was a signature achievement of the school’s Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center, a research group set up…

Fallen Bridge: ‘Stress Test’ Preceded Collapse That Killed Six

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON, Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — An innovative pedestrian bridge being built at Florida International University had been put to a “stress test” and its cables were being tightened when it collapsed over traffic, killing six people and sending 10 to a hospital, authorities said. As state and federal investigators worked to determine…

Footbridge Collapses Onto Busy Highway, Crushes 8 Vehicles

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON, Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — A pedestrian bridge that was under construction collapsed onto a busy Miami highway Thursday, crushing at least eight vehicles under massive slabs of concrete and steel and killing multiple people, authorities said. Search-and-rescue crews drilled holes into the debris and used dogs to look for survivors. They…