Roughly 3 hours since the collapse of the bridge, a provisional one has been put in place. But how safe is it really? That’s what I sought to figure out.
As I arrived in my van, the sound of gunfire was heard – and it was a recurring presence throughout my stay. Shaken, I moved to the other end, where I found a Port Authority worker who agreed to speak with me.
My first question to him was, “Is it expected to be fixed shortly, or will it take some time?”
The worker, who identified himself as Tedroblox2022129, replied, “As we believe now it will be taking some time to fix the entire bridge, But as you can see, we already have a temporary bridge.”
I asked what his role was in assisting the situation, and he replied “I assist the MBI to have the stuck vehicles removed.”
When I pressed him on how that was done, his answer was surprising: “Well, we simply just put them in the river.”
The dangers, however, were not limited to motorists stranded in the middle of the bridge. I managed to photograph a sheriff deputy falling from this interim bridge while attempting to secure a stuck car, emphasising the structure’s lack of proper safety.
As I continued speaking to Tedroblox, I asked him my final question, “What is one thing during this situation that you would like to see improved?”
He replied, “I would say the safety, because during the incident there were a lot of shooters.”
Tragically, moments later, his concern for the shooters proved all too real. While still being interviewed by me, a man approached, saying “I hate you.” before opening fire. Tedroblox was fatally struck, marking yet another casualty amidst this chaos at the bridge.
This shooting, as well as the many others, highlights the danger that workers and law enforcement face as they try to manage this scary scenario. It also raises questioning as to whether the civilians simply trying to cross the bridge can do safely.