Investigators are examining whether an overloaded truck caused the elevated roadway to fail during evening traffic.
WUXI, China — Three people were killed and two others were injured after a section of an elevated highway bridge collapsed onto vehicles traveling below in eastern China, officials said, sending tons of concrete crashing onto a busy roadway during the evening rush.
The collapse happened in Wuxi, a city in Jiangsu province, and immediately drew emergency crews, transport officials and construction investigators to the scene. Authorities said several vehicles were trapped beneath the fallen structure while other vehicles on top of the bridge plunged downward as the roadway gave way. Early findings from local officials pointed to a heavily loaded truck as a possible cause, though investigators said a full structural review and accident analysis remained underway.
Videos shared online showed the elevated roadway swaying moments before a large section suddenly folded and dropped onto traffic below. Witnesses nearby reported hearing a loud cracking sound before concrete slabs crashed onto cars traveling underneath the overpass. Rescue workers arrived within minutes and used cranes, cutting equipment and heavy machinery to reach crushed vehicles pinned beneath the debris. Officials said the collapse occurred Thursday night and involved a span of highway carrying several vehicles at the time. According to city authorities, three vehicles below were struck directly by falling concrete. Two of those vehicles were occupied, and all three victims were found inside them. A third crushed vehicle had been parked and was empty during the collapse. Several vehicles traveling on the bridge itself also fell when the roadway gave way. One witness told local media the bridge “shook like an earthquake” before collapsing.
Local government officials said at least five vehicles were on the elevated roadway when the structure failed, including two large trucks. Preliminary findings released by city authorities indicated one truck may have been carrying cargo beyond the legal weight limit. Investigators are examining transport records, vehicle permits and surveillance footage to determine whether excess weight placed unusual stress on the bridge supports. Engineers from transportation agencies and construction safety departments began inspecting nearby bridge sections shortly after the collapse. Emergency responders worked through the night under floodlights as crews searched damaged vehicles and removed concrete debris piece by piece. Hospitals in the area treated two injured people who survived the incident with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. Authorities temporarily shut down surrounding highways while structural experts checked whether nearby road sections remained stable. Officials also ordered traffic diversions across parts of Wuxi to ease congestion caused by the closure.
The collapse renewed concerns in China about construction safety, aging infrastructure and overloaded freight traffic on major highways. In recent years, several bridge and roadway failures across the country have triggered public criticism over maintenance standards and enforcement of cargo weight restrictions. Transportation experts have long warned that rapid infrastructure expansion in heavily populated regions can create pressure on inspection systems, especially as freight traffic continues growing. Public discussion intensified online after images from Wuxi showed vehicles nearly buried beneath giant slabs of concrete. Similar incidents in other Chinese cities have previously led authorities to launch national reviews of bridge inspections and trucking enforcement rules. In some earlier cases, investigators blamed poor construction materials, weak maintenance or overloaded commercial vehicles for structural failures. While officials stressed it was too early to determine the precise cause in Wuxi, many residents questioned how such a heavily traveled overpass could collapse without warning signs. State media reported that engineering teams were reviewing the bridge’s design history and maintenance records.
Transportation authorities said a formal investigation had been opened and would include structural engineers, safety regulators and police officials. Crews collected debris samples and examined fractured support sections to determine how the bridge failed. Officials also planned to inspect freight records connected to the trucks seen on the roadway before the collapse. Local authorities did not announce any criminal charges immediately following the incident, though investigators said penalties could follow if safety violations or illegal cargo loads are confirmed. Government agencies scheduled additional inspections of elevated roadways throughout Jiangsu province in the days after the disaster. Traffic officials warned drivers to expect delays and lane closures while engineers continued evaluating surrounding infrastructure. Emergency cleanup operations remained active for hours after the collapse as workers removed wrecked vehicles and unstable concrete sections. Authorities said a detailed report on the bridge failure would be released after technical reviews and laboratory testing were completed. Officials also said families of the victims were being notified and offered support services.
By Friday morning, the collapse site remained crowded with emergency crews, investigators and heavy equipment operators. Large cranes lifted broken roadway sections while workers in helmets searched the wreckage for additional hazards. Nearby residents gathered behind police barriers, many recording the cleanup effort on their phones as traffic helicopters flew overhead. One resident told reporters the elevated roadway had carried heavy truck traffic daily and was often congested during evening hours. Another witness described hearing “a huge explosion-like crash” before dust filled the roadway below. Rescue personnel moved carefully around unstable debris while engineers inspected nearby supports for signs of cracking. Officials kept portions of the highway closed as investigators photographed damaged sections and mapped the collapse area. Transportation agencies said additional public updates would be released after structural experts completed a preliminary engineering assessment. Authorities also said nearby bridge inspections would continue through the weekend.
The cause of the collapse remained under investigation Friday, with officials expected to release preliminary findings after engineering reviews are completed. Traffic restrictions around the crash site were still in place, and crews continued clearing debris while safety inspectors examined surrounding highway structures for possible damage.
Author note: Last updated May 27, 2026.