Into the chaos of broken concrete and twisted metal rushed first responders like Sweetwater Police Detective JC Llera.
"I ran to the top of the bridge and found three construction workers," said Llera.
Llera and others performed CPR on one worker.
"Every chest compression counts . It could mean the difference between someone living and someone dying," said Llera.
Nine victims were rushed to a nearby hospital. Several cars were trapped under tons of debris. Rescue and recovery is a blend of urgency and caution.
Miami Dade Fire Chief Dave Downey said, "We have to remove some of this piece by piece. It is very unstable."
Only last Saturday, celebration as a key piece of the pedestrian bridge went up over SW 8th Street. It was not slated to open to the public for months. Eventually it would have connected FIU to student apartments across the street. There are reports that stress tests were underway on the bridge Thursday.
FIU president Mark Rosenberg said, "We are extremely saddened and will do all we can to find out how it happened."
So many questions for a community where celebration now gives way to grief.