Neighbors, witnesses react to Pittsburgh bridge collapse scene; schools changing plans for students

“I heard a big noise. I thought it was just the trash truck at the corner of the alley but the noise was exceptionally loud,” Jon Danzak said. “If this would have happened 15 minutes later, you’d have had buses with school kids, buses with workers. So the timing of this in terms of happening when it did was very fortuitous.”

“It wasn’t one noise. It was persistent. The police officer down the road, I asked him. He said that was sound of gas,” Wendy Stroh said.

There was also a major gas leak around the time of the collapse. It is not clear at this time if the incidents are related. That leaked forced some people nearby to evacuate for a short time before the gas could be shut off.

Neighbors ask: did it have to come to this?

“We have all known that this bridge is a problem for a very long time,” said Josh Knauer who lives nearby

Knauer said less than an hour before the collapse, his family got word that there was a two hour delay in place. If not, his kids might have been on the span when it crumbled.

“We are very relieved that we went back to bed,” he said.

“Everybody talks about that bridge being rusted out,” another person who lives nearby told Channel 11.

“What happened today is scary as can be and when you think about all the bridges we cross, it’s critical,” Liz Healy said.

Neighbors said they want long term changes and not quick fixes when it comes to making sure bridges are safe. They’re bracing for months of construction ahead.

“By the grace of God”

Students at several Catholic schools in Pittsburgh went from a two hour delay to have school cancelled as a result of the collapse.

“By the grace of God” was how school officials reacted to the news of the collapse. They said if there was no delay, parents and students who use that bridge every day would have been heading to school.

“Our principal there could smell the gas from St. Beade so we immediately said we’re out for the day,” Michelle Peduto with the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh said.

Peduto said it was the smell of gas that caused them to react and cancel class.

“Thank God we were not coming in because some of our parents cross that bridge,” Peduto said.

She said schools are prepared to work remotely moving forward.

Church opens for safe, warm space for those impacted

As first responders were working at the scene of the collapse, a nearby church opened up to help those impacted.

“I got all kinds of texts this morning asking if it was OK,” said Pastor Caitlyn Werth.

She said when she learned what happened, she jumped in the car and drove straight to Waverly Presbyterian. She set out snacks, opened the doors for first responders to use the restroom and allowed people to stay inside to keep warm.

“I’m hoping it gives them a sense of hope. And churches are meant to be sanctuaries and places to be safe,” Werth said.

Members of the congregation also showed up with meals to feed first responders.

“It’s going to affect people who live in this area. It’s just scary. We have kids who will be traumatized about what could happen,” Werth said.