been overlaid by another layer of timbers which, combined with the soaking of the entire deck thickness, overloaded the span.

The collapse occurred during evening rush hour with workers coming home from the Longview mills. A stalled car caused traffic to bunch on the bridge; according to witnesses, the bridge was carrying about 20 vehicles and 100 to 150 pedestrians when a support cable failed for unknown reasons. The two supporting towers fell and the 300-foot center span of the bridge collapsed.

Initial contemporary newspaper

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