Bridge Death Toll Up to Three

AMSTERDAM, N.Y.--Workers seeking victims thrown into a churning stream when an interstate highway bridge collapsed, throwing four vehicles into the water, recovered two bodies yesterday to bring the known death toll to three.

Helicopters continued searching for missing vehicles from the accident Sunday, in which up to 400 feet of the New York State Thruway collapsed about 35 miles west of Albany.

Witnesses said at least three cars and a tractor-trailer tumbled into the rain-swollen Schoharie Creek below the highway, part of Interstate 90.

Yesterday, a single guard rail stretched across the gap where the bridge stood. The bridge's remains lay below, crumpled green steel and fallen pylons.

Officials said the span went through extensive rehabilitation about two years ago and was deemed in good condition in its last inspection, in April 1986.

The collapse, which forced the closing of about 25 miles of the Thruway, is expected to have a major impact on the area's trucking industry. Drivers will have to take detours of up to 20 miles on secondary roads through rolling countryside.

Thruway spokesman Raymond Makay said replacement of a bridge usually takes two years but that authorities would try to speed up work on a new span.

About 25,000 vehicles cross the bridge in a typical 24-hour period of heavy traffic, a thruway official said. The thruway runs from the New York City area north to Albany, then west to the Buffalo area.

A man who helped design the 31 year-old concrete and steel girder bridge said erosion of its supports was probably the best explanation for the collapse.

"A bridge that is in good service for so many years does not simply fall down," said Lionel Pavlo, head of Pavlo Engineering Co. of New York City, which helped design the bridge in 1952. "I have built more than 1,000 bridges and this is the first time such a thing has happened."

Gov. Mario Cuomo, who went to the site of the accident, promised a thorough investigation of the bridge collapse.

"We've lost lives here, and we ought to find out why," Cuomo said.

The tractor-trailer and a white Cadillac with one body inside were found late Sunday, when that body was recovered. A gray Cadillac was found yesterday morning with the bodies also were recovered.

The tractor-trailer was in swirling water about a quartermile from the bridge, but crews could not pull it out because of the strong current and officials were uncertain if anyone was trapped inside.

"There are other cars missing, but I won't comment on how many or on how many people may be in them," said Montgomery Country Sheriff Ronald Emery.

One of the victims was Douglas Lee Shive, 68, of Manchester, N.H., said said Trooper Edward Dyer.

The other two victims were from Ontario, and their identities were withheld while relatives were notified, said state police Lt. Mike Wright.

State police had said Monday a fourth body had been spotted in the Mohawk River by a police helicopter, but later in the day officials said that was only a rumor.