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The aftermath of the I-95 collapse | Morning Newsletter

And a school year shaped by gun violence

Excavator removing debris from fallen bridge. Bridge over Cottman Avenue from I-95 northbound collapsed after fire underneath destroyed the expressway overpass on Sunday. Photograph taken on Monday, June 12, 2023.
Excavator removing debris from fallen bridge. Bridge over Cottman Avenue from I-95 northbound collapsed after fire underneath destroyed the expressway overpass on Sunday. Photograph taken on Monday, June 12, 2023.Read moreAlejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

It’s supposed to be a sunny day with a high of 79.

Details of Sunday morning’s I-95 bridge collapse are slowly coming out. The driver of a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn Sunday morning. The truck overturned and ignited under the bridge. Our lead story focuses on the search for the identity of the driver of the tanker truck who may have been killed in the fire.

If you see this 🔑 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.

— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

The day after the collapse, law enforcement officials were looking for a match for human remains recovered from the wreckage.

Although the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed a body was recovered, investigators did not name the driver or the company that owned the tractor trailer. But relatives of Nathan S. Moody, a New Jersey truck driver, said State Police contacted them to confirm the identity of a driver who may have been killed at the scene. The relatives said they have not been in contact with Moody since Sunday.

What happens next: A team of experts from the federal National Transportation Safety Board arrived on-scene Monday and said they will publish a preliminary report in about two to three weeks. Restoration could take months.

On Monday, crews moved wreckage and began demolishing the southbound side of the highway. It will take four to five days. The northbound side buckled and collapsed, and the southbound lanes were too compromised by flames and could not carry traffic.

Click here for the latest information.

The shooting deaths of young students bookended the academic year at Roxborough and Walter B. Saul High Schools.

Just weeks after teen returned to class, four Roxborough football players were shot and 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde was killed. And just three weeks before summer break, Roxborough freshman Randy Mills, 15, was fatally shot on a SEPTA bus.

The losses shaped the year. Students struggled to concentrate in class and teachers braced themselves anytime they read news of another teen shot out of fear that it might again be one of their students.

Notable quote: “People act like we’re just kids, that this is an adult topic, but it’s not,” said Isis Feristin, a junior at Saul. “We see it every day on social media, so it’s more of a worry for us.”

On Monday, Roxborough High School unveiled a mural honoring Nick’s life.

Keep reading to hear from students on how they’re working to overcome and navigate grief.

What you should know today

  1. The I-95 bridge was not designed to withstand fire. Most aren’t.

  2. A Philly judge found an ex-officer not guilty in the beating of a mother in front of her child amid 2020 unrest.

  3. Take a moment for probably the most bizarre story you’ll read today. Two Rhode Island officials were so rude on a trip to Philly that their state launched two separate investigations.

  4. Officials advised people to stay home as wildfire smoke from Canada polluted the air in the Philly region last week. But many in poverty could not afford to run their air-conditioning all day.

  5. After a pumping station failure, Philadelphia urged 18,000 West Philly residents to boil water before drinking it.

  6. Rob McElhenny, the creator and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and his costars, Glenn Howettown and Charlie Day, will do a live taping of The Always Sunny Podcast in Philly this fall.

  7. The Jersey Shore isn’t a cheap getaway anymore. Some travelers opt for all-inclusive resorts as rental prices soar.

🧠 Trivia time 🧠

Herr’s new limited-time flavors are inspired by Philly area restaurants. Which of these restaurants are not finalists?

A) A roast pork flavor based on John’s Roast Pork in South Philly.

B) The Korean BBQ Wings flavor based on Mike’s Korean BBQ in Passyunk.

C) A tomato pie flavor inspired by Corropolese Bakery in Norristown.

D) A cheesesteak flavor inspired by Dalessandro’s in Roxborough.

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re...

👀 Watching: Former President Donald Trump is expected to be arraigned in Miami today on federal charges connected to his handling of classified national security records. We have the rundown of everything you need to know.

🎧 Listening to: Amaarae’s second album, Fountain Baby.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩

Hint: Cool off at a Philly sprayground

HORNER

We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if you’d like. Cheers to Gail Coplein, who correctly guessed Monday’s answer: Franklin Square. Email us if you know the answer.

Photo of the day

Thanks for hanging out with me this morning. I’ll catch you tomorrow. 👋🏽