What began as a normal drive turned into a nightmare for drivers who suddenly found themselves in front of a disaster few could have imagined.
Witnesses described the collapse as happening with little warning, transforming what had been a busy stretch of roadway into a scene of confusion and panic.
Drivers said they heard strange noises seconds before the structure crashed down. Some said they felt vibrations under their vehicles, some said they saw cracks and shifting pavement before they realised something was very wrong.
And then in a few seconds things went out of control.
The reaction was instinctive.
Some hurried to get out of the way of the affected area. Others slammed on their brakes or swerved to avoid debris as the roadway started to give way.
Witnesses later said they heard concrete breaking and metal twisting as parts of the structure fell.
A driver who had just crossed the span looked in his rearview mirror and saw dust and debris rising behind him, according to reports.
A moment many swore they’d never forget.
The panic that followed saw some people flee from their vehicles for safety, while others ran toward the wreckage to help anyone who might be trapped.
First responders rushed to the scene and worked to secure the scene and help out anyone impacted.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse, but have not yet released detailed information about the cause of the failure.
Engineers and transportation officials are expected to examine the structure as part of a broader effort to understand exactly what happened and whether warning signs were missed.
The incident has also brought back concerns about ageing infrastructure and the problems that are afflicting transport systems across the country.
The experience reminded many survivors of previous bridge and highway disasters, including the 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis that killed 13 and injured more than 100.
Experts have long warned that maintaining ageing roads and bridges is among the biggest infrastructure challenges facing many communities.
Most drivers probably don’t think much about the condition of the road underneath them. But this is a reminder of how fast things can change in an instant.”
In the days that followed, many of those who survived told of being in a state of disbelief and gratitude.
Some said they were thankful just to have gotten to safety.
Others were frustrated and concerned, questioning if more could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
Authorities are gathering more information and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues.
Survivors, for now, are left to deal with an experience that turned a routine commute into a nightmare.
And for many of them there is one memory that is inescapable—the sound that came just before everything changed.
Authorities will be working to discover just what happened, and communities will want answers, accountability and reassurance that such a disaster can be prevented in the future.