At least 10 people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the collapse, officials said.
At least 10 people were injured after a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh on Friday morning, according to officials, who said none of the injuries were life threatening.
It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse, which happened at around 7 a.m. near Frick Park, hours before President Biden was scheduled to visit the city to discuss infrastructure.
Darryl Jones, the Pittsburgh fire chief, said the bridge collapse had also caused a “massive” gas leak that was now under control. Officials said there was a strong smell of natural gas in the area and that they had temporarily evacuated residents who lived nearby.
Mr. Jones said that at the time of the collapse three or four cars and a bus were on the bridge, which went over a wooded area in the park.
Mr. Jones said emergency responders rappelled down the collapse site to help people and used a “daisy chain with hands just grabbing people and pulling them up” in the rescue.
Adam Brandolph, a spokesman for the Port Authority of Pittsburgh, said in an email that the bus had nearly reached one side of the bridge when the structure began to collapse. There were two passengers onboard with the driver, he said, and no injuries were reported.
The White House said in a statement that Mr. Biden had been told about the bridge collapse.
“The president is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time,” the White House said in a statement. “The president will proceed with trip planned for today and will stay in touch with officials on the ground about additional assistance we can provide.”
Ed Gainey, the mayor of Pittsburgh, said at a news briefing that the bridge was last inspected in September.
“At the end of the day this is critical that we get this funding and we are grateful to have the president coming today,” Mr. Gainey said.
