3 workers killed after portion of bridge collapses ahead of demolition: Officials

A portion of a Mississippi bridge in the process of being demolished collapsed prematurely, killing three workers, officials said.

The bridge, which spanned the Strong River in Simpson County on State Route 149, had been closed to traffic amid a monthslong replacement project. The project's contractor was in the process of demolishing the bridge when a portion collapsed Wednesday afternoon, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said.

Three workers died and four others were injured in the collapse, the department confirmed Thursday. The workers were employees of T.L. Wallace Construction, the contractor for the project.

"MDOT would like to express our sincere gratitude to all who bravely responded to this accident, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected," the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in a statement .

T.L. Wallace Construction identified the three employees killed as Charles Badger, Kevin Malone and Charles Igleharte.

"At this time, we ask for prayers and support for the families and loved ones of the deceased," the company said in a statement, adding that it is committed to providing the impacted families assistance. "Our hearts go out to them during this incredibly difficult time."

The cause of the collapse is unknown at this time, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said.

T.L. Wallace Construction said it is "fully cooperating with the investigation to understand how this tragedy occurred."

An inspector with the Mississippi Department of Transportation who was at the worksite when the bridge collapsed was unharmed, the department said.

The bridge had been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 and was in the process of being demolished as part of a $25 million project to replace four bridges along State Route 149, the department said.

The replacement project had been given an estimate of 12 to 18 months to complete, according to previous statements from the department.

The project is currently on hold until an investigation can be completed, the department said Thursday.

Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday he had been briefed on the premature collapse and that the Federal Highway Administration is "engaging state officials concerning this incident."

"Our thoughts are with the workers who were injured and lost their lives, and with their families," he said.