UPDATE - 1 killed, 6 injured as bridge collapses in Russia's Smolensk region

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - A bridge collapsed in Russia’s Smolensk region on Monday, killing one woman and injuring six others, according to the country's Emergency Ministry.

A truck and a car were on the bridge near the city of Vyazma when it collapsed. The woman driving the car died on the spot, while the truck driver was hospitalized in critical condition, the ministry said in a statement.

The bridge served as an overpass over railways and was allegedly used for transporting weapons and military equipment for the Russian Army.

Railroads were severely damaged owing to the incident, and train traffic has been halted, the statement added.

Special vehicles are currently clearing the rubble so that restoration work can begin, it said.

The regional office of the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case following the incident.

None of the governmental agencies investigating the incident identified the cause of the accident so far.

Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin is personally monitoring the situation, his press service said.