Miami bridge collapse death toll rises to 9

The death toll for the Miami pedestrian bridge collapse has now risen to nine.

Police confirmed this morning three people were found dead in cars that had been trapped after the bridge fell at Florida International University (FIU) on Thursday.

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The Sheriff’s department had already revealed six victims, including 18-year-old student Alexa Duran, who was the first to be named.

The 950-ton, $14.2 million (£10.1m) bridge had collapsed, crushing vehicles stopped at a traffic light on the eight-lane roadway below.

The news of the deaths came as the bridge’s engineers were being put under the spotlight after it was revealed they met hours before it fell to discuss a crack that had appeared.

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First victim of Miami bridge collapse named as 18-year-old Alexa Duran — Alexa Duran, 18, has been identified as the first victim of the Miami bridge collapse on Thursday (Picture: Facebook)

Workers stand next to a section of a collapsed pedestrian bridge, Friday, March 16, 2018 near Florida International University in the Miami area. The new pedestrian bridge that was under construction collapsed onto a busy Miami highway Thursday afternoon, crushing vehicles beneath massive slabs of concrete and steel, killing and injuring several people, authorities said. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) — Another picture of the devastation caused (Picture: AP)

A FIGG engineer concluded the crack was not a concern and ‘did not compromise the structural integrity of the bridge’, FIU officials confirmed.

The meeting involved representatives from FIGG, which is the private contractor for the overall design of the bridge, the university, Florida Department of Transportation officials and MunillaConstruction Management (MCM), which installed the bridge.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by SMG/REX/Shutterstock (9461509k) Scene where a pedestrian bridge collapsed a few days after it was built over southwest 8th street allowing people to bypass the busy street to reach Florida International University Pedestrian bridge collapse, Miami, USA - 15 Mar 2018 — Scene where a pedestrian bridge collapsed a few days after it was built over southwest 8th street Picture: Rex)

It also came to light FIGG’s lead engineer Denney Pate, who oversaw construction, had called a state official two days before the collapse to report cracks but the voicemail was not received until Friday.

But he had also stated the cracking posed no safety issue.

Investigators are still trying to find out what caused the deadly collapse.

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