Photos: Interstate 5 Bridge Collapsed, 3 Injured

An Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed north of Seattle Thursday evening, dumping two vehicles into the water.

An Interstate 5 four-lane bridge over Skagit River, about 55 miles north of Seattle, Washinton collapsed at about 7 p.m. on Thursday evening sending two vehicles were into the chilly water of the river.

Rescue effort by boats and divers saved three injured people and they were taken to the Skagit Valley Hospital and the United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.

AP reported that authorities said it appeared nobody was killed.

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) is still investigating the cause of the disaster.

Anyway State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste said a semi-truck driven southbound struck the bridge just before part of it collapsed.

The freeway is a principal corridor for vehicles between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada.

The bridge was built in 1955 and the disaster raised concerns about the safety of old bridges in the United States.

In August 2007, a bridge fell into the Mississippi River in Minnesota, killing thirteen people.

AP reported that more than a quarter of Washington’s 7,840 bridges are considered structurally deficient of functionally obsolete.

Please click the photos for larger images:

A local engineering expert talked to KCAL9’s Dave Bryan about the possible reasons a bridge collapsed in Washington state.

A rescue boat and divers search near a portion of the Interstate-5 bridge that is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit river dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Joe Nicholson)

A local engineering expert talked to KCAL9’s Dave Bryan about the possible reasons a bridge collapsed in Washington state.

Washington State officials say a truck apparently hit a part of a bridge, before a section of the bridge collapsed into the Skagit River. Three people were rescued. Officials are certain that everyone who went into the water is accounted for. (May 24)

Officials look on from the remaining structure at the collapsed Interstate-5 bridge submerged below in the Skagit River in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013. At least two vehicles went into the river. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The collapsed Interstate-5 bridge is seen in ruins and partially submerged in the Skagit River in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013. At least two vehicles went into the river in the collapse. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

View looking west at a portion of the Interstate-5 bridge submerged after collapsing into the Skagit river dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Joe Nicholson)

MT. VERNON, WASHINGTON – MAY 23: Crews survey the scene of a bridge collapse on Interstate 5 on May 23, 2013 near Mt. Vernon, Washington. I-5 connects Seattle, Washington to Vancouver B.C., Canada. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

In this photo provided by Francisco Rodriguez, rescue workers form a human chain as they begin to remove a woman who reaches out from a smashed pickup truck that fell into the Skagit River after the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridgeThursday, May 23, 2013, in Mount Vernon, Wash. (AP Photo/Francisco Rodriguez)

A portion of the Interstate-5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit river dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Joe Nicholson)

In this photo provided by Francisco Rodriguez, a man is seen sitting atop a car that fell into the Skagit River after the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge there minutes earlier Thursday, May 23, 2013, in Mount Vernon, Wash. (AP Photo/Francisco Rodriguez)