The 1967 Collapse of the Silver Bridge (Episode 50)

On the December 15 evening rush hour in 1967, traffic was heavy on the Silver Bridge, a 40-year-old suspension bridge connecting the states of Ohio and West Virginia. When a single link broke on the bridge's suspension system, none of those drivers had time to react - and within 20 seconds, dozens of cars and trucks had toppled into the icy Ohio River as the bridge collapsed. 64 people fell in the river, and 46 of them died, in the deadliest bridge failure in US history.

On this episode, we're talking suspension bridge design - the good, the bad, and the non-redundant -, the cause of that little crack in Eyebar 330, why bridge inspections had failed to catch an issues, and some incredible stories from the survivors. And, of course, we're discussing Mothman, who is (sadly) less of a cryptid / urban legend, and more of a blatant cash grab. 

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Sources:

The Silver Bridge at WV.Gov

The deadliest bridge disaster in US history was caused by a tiny crack just three millimeters deep by Matt Reimann for Timeline, 2017

Silver Bridge Collapse, staff writer for Corrosion Doctors, 2022