The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS - It was five years ago that the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, killing 13 people.
Those who lost loved ones, or were among the 145 injured in the collapse who survived, still deal with the grief from that day but are moving on with their lives in different ways.
The Pioneer Press reports that some have married or remarried. Some have had children. But all still live with the tragedy every day.
Betsy Sathers, who lost her husband of 10 months, is raising two children adopted from Haiti. Garrett Ebling, terribly injured in the collapse, has since married and had a child but says the emotional wounds are hardest to heal. Gary Babineau, who seriously hurt his back, opted against risky surgery to fix it but now manages often excruciating pain.
There are several observances Wednesday to commemorate the Aug. 1, 2007 collapse. Three local arts organizations created a musical composition, a short play and five poems to be debuted during a late afternoon program at Mill City Museum near the bridge site. The event coincides with the time of the rush hour collapse.
That will be followed by a photo exhibition in the museum's lobby. Artist Vance Gellert spent the last two years interviewing and photographing survivors, first responders and others affected by the collapse. In all, 145 people were injured in the collapse.
Gov. Mark Dayton has ordered Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff today to mark the anniversary.
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