August 03, 2007

First Lady Praises Heroism In Bridge Tragedy

First lady Laura Bush traveled to Minneapolis today to visit the scene of Wednesday's deadly bridge collapse and offer support and condolences to survivors and loved ones of the deceased. Speaking near the scene, within view of the iconic school bus that survived the crash with 50 children inside, Bush acknowledged the uplifting tales of heroism that have arisen from the tragedy.

"There's so many good stories," she told the crowd. It "lifts people and it really encourages people." President Bush plans to visit the area tomorrow.

Meanwhile, local authorities have increased the official death toll from the accident to five, and hospital officials are reporting more than 100 patients treated for injuries related to the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge.

Divers resumed recovery efforts in the Mississippi River this morning, but Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said the waters were "even more treacherous" than they were yesterday. AP reports that despite the scrutiny that has been directed at the bridge's safety, some experts believe the structure's design helped keep the death toll far lower than it could have been. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the number of people missing in the wreck, originally believed to be around 30, has been lowered to eight.

The Star Tribune and CNN have comprehensive coverage of this story.

Posted at 2:02 PM
Posted to: Laura Bush
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