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As this story is developing, more information will be updated as made available. This past Thursday, at least six people were killed due to a Florida International University bridge collapsing. The following Sunday, three bodies were removed from the wreckage, allowing officials to help identify the victims, as well as a victim who died in a local hospital.
What happened?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRhrfc8-mU
According to CNN, although at least six people were believed to have been killed in the collapse, officials have only identified four victims: Rolando Fraga Hernandez; Oswald Gonzalez, 57; Alberto Arias, 53; and Navarro Brown. Of the four, Fraga Hernandez, Gonzalez and Arias were taken from the wreckage on the Saturday following the incident.
Another figure, Alexa Duran, was said to have died during the crash by her family, but her name was not listed in official police lists of the victims. However, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa confirmed Duran’s passing on Twitter.
At this time, officials believe that a full list of victims will not be available until all the vehicles are removed, as confirmed by Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor Maurice Kemp, according to CNN.
Rolando Fraga Hernandez
According to ABC News, Fraga Hernandez’s nephew, Jorge Fraga, offered the following condolences to his uncle’s passing:
“I’m hoping. This morning I called a few hospitals around — nothing. But I’m trying not to think he isn’t there.”
Oswald Gonzalez, 57
According to NBC News, Gonzalez and Arias were found together after a white Chevy truck was extracted.
Alberto Arias, 53
As mentioned above, Gonzalez and Arias were found together in the wreckage. Of the four confirmed victims, they were also the only ones whose ages could be confirmed in initial reports.
Navarro Brown, 37
Of the four named victims, Brown is the only one who died in a hospital, whereas the other three were found in the wreckage on Saturday, having been removed the day of the incident. According to the Miami Herald, Michael Biesiada, a spokesman for Structural Technologies VSL issued the following statement concerning Brown’s passing:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Brown’s family and with the other affected employees.”
“We really appreciate the work of the first responders who immediately offered their help.”
The Miami Herald also confirmed that Brown had been 37 at the time of his death.
Alexa Duran, 18
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As mentioned, Duran’s body was not found by police and it is unknown if her body has been recovered, but her death was confirmed by family and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa. According to CNN, her father, Orlando, issued the following statement:
“My little girl was trapped in the car and couldn’t get out.”
Fernanda Espinosa also issued the following statement on Twitter:
“I regret to report the death of Alexa Durán, 18 years old, daughter of an Ecuadorian father in the collapse of the pedestrian bridge in Miami in front of the
@FIU Our consulate coordinates actions to learn more details of this accident and provide assistance to their families.”
Brandon Brownfield
According to ABC 10 Local, a sixth and presumed final victim was identified as Brandon Brownfield, as confirmed by his wife the Sunday following the incident; his wife, Chelsea Brownfield, issued the following statement on Facebook:
“The coming days are going to be excruciating, as we dig deep to find the strength we need to heal.”
“Please keep us in your prayers, as I now have to find the words and the answers to tell my girls that their daddy is not coming home.”
What about the other victims?
As mentioned above, police do not believe that they will confirm the full list of victims until all of the wreckage is cleared up.
As this story is developing, more information will be updated as made available, such as the identity of the other victims.
