Auto Glass Industry Exec Traveled Over Minneapolis Bridge Hours Before Collapse

Jim Janssen, senior Midwest territory manager for the Madison Heights Mich.-based Sika Corp., traveled over the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis last week just six short hours before its tragic collapse. A resident of Eden Prairie, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis, he had traveled the bridge many times before, and was on his way to a meeting with representatives from Pilkington on the day of the collapse.

"I just noticed … that they were doing construction on the bridge," he said, when asked if he noticed anything unusual as he drove over the bridge.

Later that day, at around 6:30 p.m., he heard that the bridge had collapsed at 6:05 p.m.

As the rest of the country mourns in the aftermath of the tragedy and the search for victims continues, Janssen also offers his condolences.

"My prayers and thoughts go out to all those affected," he said.