Saida Adan and daughter Hana Mohamed were among the eight people missing after the bridge collapse.
Five people confirmed dead, number of missing drops
The death toll rose today as divers prepared to reenter the Mississippi River under dangerous conditions. The number of missing people was lowered to eight.
By Heron Marquez Estrada, Star Tribune
Last update: August 03, 2007 – 8:46 AM
The number of dead from the Interstate 35W bridge collapse has increased to five, while the number of missing dropped dramatically this morning, authorities reported.
The fifth body was pulled from the river shore yesterday by rescue workers with the Minneapolis Fire Department. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office is still trying to identify the body.
"We believe that the fifth victim came out on the shore from a car," said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, who was briefed on the matter by Minneapolis rescue officials.
Fourteen people were still at Hennepin County Medical Center, where most of the victims were taken, with five of them still in critical condition, spokeswoman Kathy Roberts said.
Stanek, who held a briefing this morning on the east bankof the Mississippi River, said investigators have been able to account for all but eight of the missing from Wednesday's bridge collapse. Initially there were reports of as many as 30 missing, but Stanek said investigators in the last 36 hours have been able to track down relatives and account for most everyone.
Stanek made the announcement as he detailed plans for divers who were going to reenter the river sometime this morning in an attempt to recover more bodies and identify an estimated 60 or more vehicles still in the water. He said the number of vehicles could be more than 60, based on surveillance from the National Transportation Safety Board and sonar readings from divers.
Stanek said the NTSP has identified at least 60 vehicles still in the water. Divers have identified another nine possible search targets, which could turn out to be vehicles, north of the collapse site, near the lock and dam. The 15-17 divers from Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties performing the recovery operation will be focusing on an area between the collapsed bridge and the lock and dam this morning. The divers have been hampered by poor visibility, strong river currents and a tremendous amount of debris from the bridge. Sixteen boats in the operations.
"Conditions on the river are even more treacherous today than yesterday," Stanek said.
Officials on Thursday identified the dead as Sherry Lou Engebretsen, 60, Shoreview; Julia Blackhawk, 32, Savage; Artemio Trinidad-Mena, 29, Minneapolis, and Patrick Holmes, 36, Mounds View.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Minneapolis bridge collapes during rush hour
