San Angeloan Describes Bridge Aftermath
By: Jason Calder
Updated: August 3, 2007
At least four people are dead and as many as 30 people remain missing in the Minneapolis bridge collapse. Thankfully some people lived through the experience. Jason Calder spoke with one San Angeloan who was in the city on business and described the destruction.The I-35 bridge near downtown Minneapolis collapsed over the Mississippi River during rush hour Wednesday. San Angelo resident Sara Cruz was in the city for a conference and was not far from where the catastrophe took place.
Cruz said, "At one of our meetings they came and alerted us that I-35 West bridge had collapsed, that there was a possible fatality and they would get us more information to us."
The meetings then ended. She went back to her room at her hotel where she could view the wreckage.
She said, "I'm on the 20th floor in one of the largest hotels in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From my window, being on the 20th floor, I could see the happenings on the bridge, I could see lights, I could see dust. You know it was a real hazy day."
Cruz said she was surprised to talk to some people from Minnesota who were just minutes away from being victims of this tragedy.
"They told me I was five minutes from there. I was ten minutes from there. I just said 'Aren't you just thankful?' and 'It's just not your time.' They said 'Yes it wasn't my time. I'm just glad I'm still here," said Cruz.
After having time to process it all in her mind, Cruz was able to react to the situation.
She said, "My reaction to it all is thank god I live in San Angelo,Texas. I don't have to cross a bridge like that. I just have to go down Houston Harte to get to work and I'm just thankful that I don't have to go on a bridge like everyone experienced yesterday that had that awful happenings in their life. I'm just glad I didn't have to go through that."
Sara said she will definitely be glad to be back home and arrives back in San Angelo Friday.
