Cypress Freeway Collapse

The power went out seconds after the Great Quake of 89 hit. This clip starts just after the power started up again at channel 7, back in 1989. The newscasters description of the disaster seemed a bit out of touch with what she actually seeing. At the end she explans why she did a poor job of describing the disaster.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• earthquake
• freeway
• collapse
• news
• coverage

[rustyrelic]

Thanks for the comments, I have updated the video info.

[manhizzy]

Nobody called it the "Cypress" Freeway until this happened. It was part of the Nimitz Freeway; this particular section ran down the traffic island of Cypress Street with southbound traffic on top and northbound traffic on the bottom, because (so they said) there was no room to put a one level freeway carrying both directions. Of course, after the earthquake, they were able to find room.

[Momoftwinsplus1]

How was it a bigger problem? 35 people died on the cypress freeway. So it more lives, it caused more damage, and it was a VERY big problem to those who were trapped under it for hours and hours. Check out Webbers Falls OK, the 35W bridge overshadows it, but it was also a VERY big deal in the way of collapses.

[1skunkus]

@antdez1 You are so right, hope it dont go next.

[antdez1]

there is still a freeway like this in San Francisco the 280 east of the 101 :\

[BellaDonna49]

About 6 seconds into this video is my Father in-law's car burning, that's all the smoke you see. His car exploded and he was killed. There was nothing left except a few teeth and some bones. I will never ever forget this day as long as I live. We didn't find him until 8 days later. Try living through that Hell.

My mother in-law sued the State of CA. for being at fault and won. She deserved everything she got.

[BellaDonna49]

About 6 seconds into this video is my Father in-law's car burning, that's all the smoke you see. His car exploded and he was killed. There was nothing left except a few teeth and some bones. I will never ever forget this day as long as I live. We didn't find him until 8 days later. Try living through that Hell.

My mother in-law sued the State of CA. for being at fault and won. She deserved everything she got.

[BellaDonna49]

About 6 seconds into this video is my Father in-law's car burning, that's all the smoke you see. His car exploded and he was killed. There was nothing left except a few teeth and some bones. I will never ever forget this day as long as I live. We didn't find him until 8 days later. Try living through that Hell.

[BellaDonna49]

About 6 seconds into this video is my Father in-law's car. His car exploded and he was killed. There was nothing left except a few teeth and some bones. I will never ever forget this day as long as I live. We didn't find him until 8 days later. Try living through that Hell.

[amyisindallas]

My mom used to take me on this when I was a baby.

[Syrophrenikan]

i was 8 years old and about 50 feet away from that freeway when it collapsed. i was looking right at it and the support columns cracked for about 2 seconds then exploded with concrete dust, obscuring everything. i moved away and after the dust cleared i could see that the top section had fallen and crushed all of the cars.

[manhizzy]

You're also right about people knowing it was a threat before the fact. I read a blog from a guy who was a tow truck driver in the early 80s and he said he would get nervous whenever he would get a call to go to the Cypress. He also said his work buddies would tease him because during the summer they would use the structure for shade while they ate lunch, and he refused to sit under it.