NORFOLK, Neb. -- A railroad bridge over the Elkhorn River in southwest Norfolk collapsed Tuesday, sending three Nebraska Central Railroad employees into the fast-moving current, the Grand Island Independent reported.
[UTU editors' note: One unidentified worker is missing and the missing worker is a member of the UTU. The UTU represents operating and maintenance-of-way employees on Nebraska Central. A second UTU member and a supervisor survived.]
Chad Korth, who works for the railroad, confirmed that three employees were checking the status of the bridge when the flood waters below caused it to collapse, reports the newspapaer.
"I'm hoping that they will be OK," he said.
Search and rescue is currently under way. A Life Net helicopter has been called in to help and a Nebraska National Guard helicopter also could be seen hovering in the area.
The Elkhorn River, which was forecast to crest later Tuesday, was reported to be flowing at 20 miles per hour, raising concern about how quickly a person could be swept through the area.
Bethany Raabe was near the scene when the bridge collapsed and said she "heard a really loud noise."
"We heard screaming and didn't know if there was a train or if someone was drowning," Raabe said.
She added, "(The bridge) looked like it was in half, covered with water."
South Highway 81 has been barricaded at 13th Street and Omaha Avenue before the viaduct. First Street and Omaha Avenue is also closed due to water over the road.
The bridge that collapsed is the only one that provides access over the river for some of Norfolk's major industries, including Nucor Steel, Norfolk Iron & Metal and Louis Dreyfus Commodities ethanol plant.
"We've had the track out of commission for 2-3 weeks before, but nothing like this," said a Nucor employee Tuesday afternoon.
Rebuilding the bridge will be a major project, Korth said.
The industries now will have to move their product in and out of Norfolk by truck, the Nucor employee said.
Employees at Norfolk's Veyance plant, which is located in southwest Norfolk north of the Elkhorn River, were instructed to head home at noon Tuesday as a precautionary measure, said Dan Finn, plant manager.
The manufacturing plant itself remains well above water level, but the plant parking lot was under water as of earlier Tuesday.
(The preceding article was published June 16, 2010, by the Grand Island Independent.)
NORFOLK, Neb. -- Still missing in the wake of flooding here is a UTU member and Nebraska Central rail worker who fell into the Elkhorn river after a bridge collapse Tuesday, television station KMTV reported. The missing worker has not been identified.
The UTU represents operating and maintenance-of-way employees on Nebraska Central.
Officials say air searches are underway because it's just too dangerous to search on the ground or by boat.
Three Nebraska Central Railroad workers were checking the bridge when it collapsed.
One worker was able to reach safety by himself; the second was rescued by emergency workers who floated a boat to him. Their names or hometowns are not being released.
Chad Korth, who works for the railroad, confirmed that three employees were checking the status of the bridge when the flood waters below caused it to collapse, the Grand Island Independent reported.
"I'm hoping that they will be OK," he said.
Search and rescue is currently under way. A Life Net helicopter has been called in to help and a Nebraska National Guard helicopter also could be seen hovering in the area.
The Elkhorn River, which was forecast to crest later Tuesday, was reported to be flowing at 20 miles per hour, raising concern about how quickly a person could be swept through the area.
Bethany Raabe was near the scene when the bridge collapsed and said she "heard a really loud noise."
"We heard screaming and didn't know if there was a train or if someone was drowning," Raabe said.
She added, "(The bridge) looked like it was in half, covered with water."
South Highway 81 has been barricaded at 13th Street and Omaha Avenue before the viaduct. First Street and Omaha Avenue is also closed due to water over the road.
The bridge that collapsed is the only one that provides access over the river for some of Norfolk's major industries, including Nucor Steel, Norfolk Iron & Metal and Louis Dreyfus Commodities ethanol plant.
"We've had the track out of commission for 2-3 weeks before, but nothing like this," said a Nucor employee Tuesday afternoon.
Rebuilding the bridge will be a major project, Korth said.
The industries now will have to move their product in and out of Norfolk by truck, the Nucor employee said.
Employees at Norfolk's Veyance plant, which is located in southwest Norfolk north of the Elkhorn River, were instructed to head home at noon Tuesday as a precautionary measure, said Dan Finn, plant manager.
The manufacturing plant itself remains well above water level, but the plant parking lot was under water as of earlier Tuesday.
(The preceding article was published June 16, 2010, by the Grand Island Independent.)
