A fatal Minneapolis bridge collapse has southwestern Connecticut residents drawing similarities with the Mianus River Bridge collapse in 1983.

Part of the bridge, located in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich, gave way. Responders said it appeared as though someone had cut a section out of the structure.

A tractor-trailer went off the side of the bridge, coming to rest against a pillar. Other vehicles also plummeted into the river during the accident, which claimed three lives.

"At one point or another, [everyone] who lives in the region has driven over that bridge," said a responder to the scene. "Everyone said the same thing, 'It could have been me.'"

The former Connecticut House speaker said the Mianus River Bridge collapse resulted in the state creating a transportation fund.

In June 2007, Gov. Jodi Rell ordered the Department of Transportation to conduct bridge safety inspections every two years. The DOT had been inspecting smaller bridges every four years to save money, however, Rell said now is not the time to cut back on safety.The National Transportation Safety Board is probing Wednesday's Minneapolis bridge collapse into the Mississippi River. The county sheriff said all indications are that the collapse was not a deliberate act.

Four people are confirmed dead, but officials expect the death toll to rise as debris is removed.

AP wire reports contributed to this story.