How many people died in the Mothman bridge collapse?

46 people
On December 15, 1967, 46 people died as the bridge that connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Gallipolis, Ohio collapsed. During that time, the area around Point Pleasant was being inundated with sightings of a large bird-like creature that came to be known as ‘Mothman.

When did the bridge collapse in Gallipolis Ohio?

Dec. 15, 1967
On Dec. 15, 1967, the bridge that connected Point Pleasant to Gallipolis, Ohio, collapsed during rush-hour traffic. Forty-six people were killed. Video, courtesy of West Virginia Archives, shows the aftermath of the disaster.

How many people died in the Ohio bridge collapse?

46
It was rush hour, and the bridge was packed with cars. Thirty-one vehicles plunged into the icy waters of the Ohio River. Twenty-one people survived, but 46 died in the disaster. The Silver Bridge tragedy led to national changes in how bridges were inspected.

How long is Silver Bridge?

681 m
Silver Bridge/Total length

How long did the Silver Bridge stand for?

On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed under the weight of rush-hour traffic, resulting in the deaths of 46 people….

How did they fix the Silver Bridge?

The American Bridge Company developed a new heat-treated carbon steel to use on the construction of the Silver Bridge. This new steel would allow the individual members of the bridge to handle more stress. Along with the two eye-bars sharing the load, the steel could easily handle the 4 « million pound load.

How many died on the Point Pleasant bridge?

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The West Virginia Department of Transportation is remembering the lives of the 46 people who died when the Silver Bridge collapsed 53 years ago on Dec. 15, 1967. The bridge, that connected Point Pleasant, W.Va. to Gallipolis, OH, collapsed during rush hour traffic.

Why did Silver Bridge Fail?

The bridge failure was due to a defect in a single link, eye-bar 330, on the north of the Ohio subsidiary chain, the first link below the top of the Ohio tower. A small crack was formed through fretting wear at the bearing, and grew through internal corrosion, a problem known as stress corrosion cracking.

Who built Silver Bridge?

So-called by Point Pleasant-area residents viewing its silvery aluminum paint for the first time, the Silver Bridge was designed by J.E. Greiner Company and built by Gallia County Ohio River Bridge Company (later West Virginia-Ohio Bridge Company) and its subcontractor, U.S. Steel’s American Bridge Company.

When did the Mothman bridge collapse in Ohio?

“I had a terrible nightmare,” Ohio reporter Mary Hyre told journalist John Keel on November 19, 1967, just under a month before the tragedy struck. “There were a lot of people drowning in the river and Christmas packages were floating everywhere in the water. Its like something awful is going to happen.”

When did the Silver Bridge collapse in Ohio?

After a series of bizarre Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant, the Silver Bridge collapsed into the icy waters of the Ohio River and took 46 lives with it. “I had a terrible nightmare,” Ohio reporter Mary Hyre told journalist John Keel on November 19, 1967, just under a month before the tragedy struck.

Why was there a Mothman on the Silver Bridge?

Mothman sightings came to a stop after the Silver Bridge collapse, leading to the theory that the Mothman and the bridge disaster were directly related. Some claimed to have spotted the Mothman near the bridge just before it fell into the river.

Who was the survivor of the Ohio River bridge collapse?

Virginia Thomas had them about people dying the water of the nearby Ohio River. In an interview, Bridge Collapse Survivor, Charlene Wood said “When I got to the traffic light, here in point pleasant, I got the red light. When it changed I started going up onto the bridge and just about that time, the bridge started shaking”.