Franken – Scaffolding collapsed on Highway Bridge – at least one dead – Süddeutsche.de

• 20 meters high, the new highway bridge, which is to replace an old bridge on the A7 near Schweinfurt
• Now the construction, there was a serious accident. At least one worker was killed , others were injured.
• The info phone for relatives can be contacted at 0931/4571861.

When a serious accident at the construction site of a new highway bridge in lower Franconia least one worker was killed. Six people were injured. A section of the new bridge had collapsed over a length of 40 meters and had spilled several workers.

A total of 20 workers were employed on the site. The roadway of the new bridge segment fell about 20 meters in depth. Here also a scaffold collapsed. The accident occurred just above a country road that leads under the bridge along. How could this happen, at the moment is still unclear.

Five rescue helicopters and dog units were among others in use, said a spokesman for the integrated control center Schweinfurt. Overall are more than 150 workers of emergency services, fire brigade and technical relief spot. The police established under 0931/4571861 up a telephone information line for relatives.

About the number of victims initially were confused. The speaker of the integrated control center Schweinfurt said, in the first chaos you had initially thought of three dead people. Meanwhile, we have the number corrected to a person. Currently no worker was missing. For safety reasons but will continue to be sought with dogs for possible buried, probably into the night.

Six workers suffered in the collapse of the bridge part only minor injuries, they are psychological support. In use, was also the mountain rescue team, after one of the construction workers had caught in the collapse of the bridge in the framework. The man who hung in five meters above the ground, could be rescued by the emergency services. He was slightly injured.

traffic is routed through old bridge

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann was very shocked by the disaster. “To the families, I express my deepest condolences. The injured I wish a speedy recovery,” he said after notification of his ministry.

The traffic on the highway was not affected by the disaster, said Björn Schmitt, Chairman the police headquarters lower Franconia. The vehicles will be directed via the old bridge, was only affected at the construction site of the new bridge.

The Viaduct Schraudenbach in Werneck in Lower Franconia is about 50 years old. Because of the fatigue of the prestressing steel and the no longer sufficient for the current traffic conditions supporting a reserves replacement building, according to the Federal Ministry of Transport had become imperative. This is built since summer, 2015. The construction of the 236 meter long bridge should be completed by the end of 2017.

The old bridge had been blocked due to overloading of heavy vehicles. In addition, a speed restriction has been imposed.