A pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed Thursday, just days after crews had dropped an elevated 950-ton span in place on a signature project that was intended to give Florida International University students a safe route across the busy roadway. The death toll remained uncertain as rescue crews continued to work into the night to reach vehicles but late Thursday Miami-Dade fire chief Dave Downey confirmed at least four people had been killed, including a student from FIU, police sources said. Read: National Transportation Safety Board Investigating Bridge Collapse At Florida International University 
 
 The 950-ton bridge, located at 109th Ave and 8th Street, came crumbling down onto a number of cars. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. Joe Raedle/Getty Images 
 
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 Witness Suzy Bermudez told ABC News that she was sitting in traffic when she saw the bridge collapse from the left and then toward the middle. “I jumped out of my car and I ran towards the victim to see if we could help anybody but when I saw, the only thing you could see were the car lights in the front. One woman survived because her car was smashed on the rear, so Bermudez and others were able to pull her out, she said. “We do know that there are 8 vehicles that they can see that are under there,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez. “In reality, nobody can tell you if it was a vehicle that only had a driver or had a driver and 4 passengers. Joe Raedle/Getty Images 
 
 Ten injured victims, labeled as level-one trauma patients, were transported to nearby Kendall Regional Medical Center, program director Dr. Mark McKenney said in a press conference. Eight other patients admitted to the hospital suffered from traumatic injuries such as bruises, abrasions and broken bones but were in stable condition, McKenney said. They will be offering additional troopers to aid in search and rescue as well as traffic control. She’s in school.” 
 
 Collazo said her daughter, who had been on campus for a nursing meeting, stopped at a red light when she said she heard what sounded like small rocks falling on her car. “I just heard a really loud crash…I ran to my balcony and then I saw that it was down,” said witness Chelsea Morsey who lives in a high-rise tower just feet away from the bridge. But the project was far from complete and not expected to open to student foot traffic until 2019. But I do not know that as a fact.” 
 
 Late Thursday, came the first definitive word from a government official about what was being done on the bridge when it fell. Senator Bill Nelson says the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is “launching and leading an investigation into the bridge collapse.” 
 
 Witness Aura Martinez who spoke with CBS4 said, “It was such a scary feeling because I saw [the collapse] and I didn’t know what to do,” she told CBS4. One girl, her car, it was literally a miracle of God because her car was just squished at the back. FIU issued a statement to about the deadly incident, saying, 
 
 “We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge. Thank you first responders who assisted in the rescue efforts at the collapsed crossing bridge. Joe Raedle/Getty Images 
 
 More than 100 firefighters were on the scene working to find victims with the help of cranes and search dogs, and officials were working to stabilize the bridge. We will share updates as we have them.” 
 
 The president of FIU, Mark Rosenberg, issued a statement saying he was ‘heartbroken’ by the news, saying in part, “We send our deepest condolences to the victims and the families. We are working to appropriate agencies to assist in rescue efforts.” 
 
 Florida Governor Rick Scott will be at FIU this evening to get briefed by law enforcement and school officials. He says he’s spoken with Miami-Dade Police Chief Juan Perez and will stay in contact with law enforcement through the day. Students and faculty had been calling for a bridge at the crossing of 8th Street and 109th Street, where pedestrians were required to cross through heavy traffic, The Miami Herald reported. The company that built the bridge, MCM, issued a statement saying: “Our family’s thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy. "The new UniversityCity Bridge, which was under construction, experienced a catastrophic collapse causing injuries and loss of life," the company said. "MCM is a family business and we are all devastated and doing everything we can to assist." We will conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way.” 
 
 FIGG Bridge Group also helped put together the bridge and issued a statement saying: “We are stunned by today’s tragic collapse of a pedestrian bridge that was under construction over Southwest Eighth Street in Miami. "Our deepest sympathies are with all those affected by this accident," the company said. "We will fully cooperate with every appropriate authority in reviewing what happened and why." Another company that took part in the bridge's construction, FIGG Engineering, said in a statement that it was "stunned" and that "nothing like this has ever happened before" in its 40-year history. “Our entire team mourns the loss of life and injuries associated with this devastating tragedy, and our prayers go out to all involved.” MCM Construction Management, which is building the bridge, posted a message to the company’s Facebook page promising “a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong.” 
 
 Mayor Gimenez, in Hong Kong on a trade mission, said in a telephone interview that he instructed county rescue workers to identify license plates from the trapped cars as quickly as possible so that families could be notified. They issued a statement saying in part: “Barnhart Crane and Rigging was saddened by the news of the tragedy that occurred in Miami with the collapse of the Florida International University pedestrian bridge. The company that moved the bridge into place, Barnhart Crane & Rigging, said in a statement that it was only contracted to move the bridge and was not involved with the design or construction of the bridge. "Our scope of work was completed without incident and according to all technical requirements," the company said, adding that it would cooperate with investigators and offering condolences to the victims. The 950-ton span was lifted off the ground by a mechanical transporter, swung into position across the Trail, then lowered into place over the support columns. The bridge’s main 175-foot span, assembled on the side of the road, was raised into place across Tamiami Trail on Saturday in less than six hours. WPLG 
 
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 According to an FIU press release, the 174-foot, 950-ton bridge was just installed "in a few hours" using "accelerated bridge construction" methods, which the university said "reduces potential risks to workers, commuters, and pedestrians and minimizes traffic interruptions." Funding for the $14.2 million bridge, connecting plazas and walkways is part of a $19.4 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. But one agency, the Florida Department of Transportation, quickly distanced itself, issuing a fact sheet saying it had a limited role in the project and emphasizing FIU’s responsibility for testing and safely completing the bridge. Construction for the bridge began in the spring of 2017 and was expected to be completed in early 2019.
– Officials say several people are dead after a new pedestrian bridge collapsed onto a road near the Florida International University campus Thursday in Miami, CBS Miami reports. According to the Miami Herald, the 950-ton bridge was installed Saturday to provide pedestrian access between FIU's main campus and an area where students live in off-campus housing and new dorms. The Florida Highway Patrol says five to six vehicles were crushed under the collapsed bridge, ABC News reports. The highway patrol says several people were killed, but an exact number of injuries and fatalities is unknown. It's also unknown why the pedestrian bridge collapsed. The bridge was built using a new method meant to reduce risks to workers and traffic impacts during construction.