The 19-year-old, who is an apprentice at Mjøsbil in Tretten, was on his way to work on Monday morning. The work route from Gausdal to Tretten goes over the Tretten bridge. But when he was about to drive onto the bridge, the bridge collapsed. – It was just before I ended up inside, he says. There was a foreign tour bus in front of him and both had to back up quickly to get away. Brage Staum was about to drive over the bridge when it collapsed. He is impressed. – I did not expect this to happen, no, he says. It was a brutal start to the week for many in Tretten, which is the center of Øyer municipality. Bus on the bridge just before the collapse Nearest neighbor to the bridge, Atle Formo, woken up by a bang. He jumped out of bed and pulled away the curtain. Then he saw that the bridge was in the river. – Fortunately, it didn’t happen when the school bus passed, he says. TERRIBLE: Atle Formo lives right by the bridge. He woke up to a bang and saw the bridge lying in the river. Photo: Line Fosser Vogt / news Two buses drove over the bridge before it collapsed. At 7.34 a.m., the bridge that the students, parents and others use to get over Gudbrandsdalslågen and the E6 to school and work collapsed. But just when it collapsed there was only a car and a lorry on the bridge. The drivers of both cars are safe and uninjured. – It is unreal and incredibly good that no lives were lost, says mayor of Øyer Jon Halvor Midtmageli (Sp). LUCK: Mayor of Øyer, Jon Halvor Midtmageli, believes it is only luck that no lives were lost when the bridge collapsed. Photo: Ragnhild Moen Holø / news It was the first thing he thought of since the bridge collapsed at a time when most people are traveling over the bridge to the city centre. Half an hour before the students were supposed to be at school. The mayor calls that luck. – This is a bridge that is used by many, especially in the morning, says Jon Halvor Midtmageli. Debriefing of the whole village The collapse of the bridge has shocked everyone who lives in Tretten. It is a small community where everyone knows everyone. And almost everyone uses the bridge, which has now collapsed. COMPLETELY SICK: Marit Holthe can hardly believe what she sees when she sees that the bridge has collapsed. Photo: Line Fosser Vogt / news – You only believe what you see. It’s absolutely sick, says Marit Holthe, who is surprised that such a new bridge has collapsed. She thinks it is absolutely incredible that it has gone well with people. The municipality has an open community center all day for those who either need to talk to someone or have questions. Too many people think about how close it was to someone getting hurt. At the schools, the rivers have gathered to talk about what has happened. That the bridge collapsed right after many of them had recovered on the first day of school. The police say there is no information to suggest that more people may be in the water. They are asking people who drove and saw the incident to contact the police. The rescue operation is about to end and is moving into an investigation phase. INVESTIGATION: The police will investigate what caused the bridge to collapse. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news The police are again together with recovery and contractors so that we can secure the vehicles. You can never completely rule out that there are more in the water, but it seems very unlikely.
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Brage Staum was on its way over Tretten bridge in Øyer when it collapsed – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
