VDOT investigates Giles County bridge collapse

By News in Brief
Published: October 20, 2008

PEARISBURG—The Virginia Department of Transportation is investigating the collapse of a pedestrian bridge that injured nine people in Giles County.

VDOT says 10 people were on the cable-and-wood bridge spanning Walker Creek when it collapsed in the early Sunday on Oct. 12.

State Police Sgt. Mike Conroy said nine people were taken to Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital in Pearisburg. Conroy says one person suffered serious injuries while the other injuries were not life-threatening. The group included adults and children.

VDOT spokeswoman Heidi Coy says the swinging bridge was about 100 feet long and about 30 feet above the water, which was about 3 feet to 4 feet deep at the time.

She says the bridge was in good condition when it was last inspected in May 2007.