5 Years After I-35W Collapse: Reflections From Rosemount Victim's Family, Account From Apple Valley Survivor

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Get our newsletter | Blog for us

Within the span of a few seconds on Aug. 1, 2007, the Interstate 35W bridge, the state's fifth busiest span, became piles of rubble.

The effects of that day have reverberated for five years. Wednesday marks the anniversary of the collapse, which killed 13 and injured 145.

Among the victims who lost their lives was Peter Hausmann, 47, of Rosemount, a computer consultant with Assurity River Group in St. Paul who was on his way to St. Louis Park to pick up a friend for dinner.

A memorial mass for Hausmann is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the in Rosemount.

Shortly after the collapse, Minnesota Public Radio interviewed Hausmann's family and friends, painting a picture of Hausmann and his life. You can read the full text and listen to audio features on MPR's website here.

Hausmann is survived by his wife, Helen, and four children. The Star Tribune spoke with them and published a story at the end of this July about their lives since and how they remember Hausmann. You can read the full story on the Star Tribune's website here. The family also is featured in the Star Tribune's survivors photo gallery.

resident Andy Gannon survived the collapse, and was able to share his story and thoughts soon after the tragedy, as well as a little more than a year later, when the rebuilt bridge opened.

The Star Tribune's "13 seconds in August" project shows where Gannon's vehicle was located (car No. 15 on the graphic). A video interview with Gannon reveals his personal experience the day of the collapse, when he went from being in a "phenomenal" mood to knowing "something was really wrong."

The same feature also caught up with five years later with Gannon, who is busy not taking life for granted.

See the graphic, video and written stories on the Star Tribune's website here.

Gannon was also interviewed for a New York Times and Star Tribune pieces about going back to the newly rebuilt bridge in September 2008; he talked about wanting to cross the new bridge as soon as possible, and not living life in fear.

If you were in Minnesota at the time, you remember where you were when you heard about the bridge collapse tragedy. Tell us in the comments how the collapse affected you, your family or your town. What do you remember about that day? What would you like to say to victims' families, or to survivors?