A road bridge on the main highway between the northwestern United States and Canada's British Columbia province collapsed and sent several cars tumbling into a river, injuring some motorists but causing no fatalities.
Authorities said a tall truck hit an overhead girder on the 50-year-old bridge, and seconds later a large portion of the metal structure fell into shallow waters of the Skagit River in Washington state. The truck stayed on the roadway but two following vehicles tumbled into the water. The two drivers and one passenger who were plunged into the water were hospitalized, but officials said their injuries were not life-threatening.
The bridge carried four lanes of traffic along Interstate Highway 5, the main regional road link between the United States and Canada. The bridge failure has created a major problem for commercial and tourist traffic.
President Barack Obama and other U.S. leaders have called for action in the past to repair and renovate deteriorating infrastructure facilities around the country, especially highways and bridges, but the high cost of such work has made it difficult for lawmakers to agree on such spending.