A portion of an Interstate 5 highway bridge in Mount Vernon, Wash., collapsed Thursday night, sending cars and people into the water, authorities said.
Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, Wash., was expecting two patients taken from the accident, according to Kari Ranten, a spokeswoman. She believed a third patient was transported to another hospital. She did not know the patients' conditions.
ABC News affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle reported rescue crews with boats were operating at the scene of the accident and rescues had occurred.
The collapse occurred on the portion of Interstate 5 over the Skagit River, about two hours north of Seattle.
Tiffany Matson
A portion of the Interstate 5 freeway over... View Full Size
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"N/B and S/B lanes of I-5 Skagit River Bridge collapsed," Washington State Trooper Mark Francis posted on Twitter. "People and cars in water."
The collapse occurred around 7 p.m. and the portion of the that collapsed was four lanes wide, The Associated Press reported.
Xavier Grospe, 62, who lives near the river, told the AP he could see three cars partially submerged in the water with what appeared to be one person per vehicle, with drivers on top of vehicles or sitting on open window openings.
"It doesn't look like anybody's in danger right now," Grospe said.
Bart Treece with the Washington state Department of Transportation said he was not immediately aware of the age of the bridge.
"All of our bridges in the area are pretty old," he said, according to ABC News Radio. "I don't have an exact date on this, and we're still checking out some of the details behind it."
The bridge was built in 1955, according to The Associated Press, citing federal records.
ABC News' Michael S. James and Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.
Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, Wash., was expecting two patients taken from the accident, according to Kari Ranten, a spokeswoman. She believed a third patient was transported to another hospital. She did not know the patients' conditions.
ABC News affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle reported rescue crews with boats were operating at the scene of the accident and rescues had occurred.
The collapse occurred on the portion of Interstate 5 over the Skagit River, about two hours north of Seattle.
Tiffany Matson
A portion of the Interstate 5 freeway over... View Full Size
Jodi Arias Jury Cannot Decide on Life or Death Sentence Watch Video
Digital Report: President Obama Delivers National Security Speech Watch Video
Kids' Jaw Dropping Reaction to Retro Basement Arcade Watch Video
"N/B and S/B lanes of I-5 Skagit River Bridge collapsed," Washington State Trooper Mark Francis posted on Twitter. "People and cars in water."
The collapse occurred around 7 p.m. and the portion of the that collapsed was four lanes wide, The Associated Press reported.
Xavier Grospe, 62, who lives near the river, told the AP he could see three cars partially submerged in the water with what appeared to be one person per vehicle, with drivers on top of vehicles or sitting on open window openings.
"It doesn't look like anybody's in danger right now," Grospe said.
Bart Treece with the Washington state Department of Transportation said he was not immediately aware of the age of the bridge.
"All of our bridges in the area are pretty old," he said, according to ABC News Radio. "I don't have an exact date on this, and we're still checking out some of the details behind it."
The bridge was built in 1955, according to The Associated Press, citing federal records.
ABC News' Michael S. James and Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.