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Bethel Student Credits God in Bridge Rescues
Matt Miller, a senior from Fridley, Minn. majoring in physical education and coaching, was part of the construction crew resurfacing the I-35W bridge across the Mississippi River the day it collapsed last August in Minneapolis. Standing near the bridge when it went down, Miller was unhurt, but he risked his life to get 12 co-workers and civilians to safety—eight of them from underneath a buckled span of eight-lane freeway that could have collapsed at any time.
Matt Miller
“He jumped into the fray and absolutely took control like a trained professional,” said Tom Sloan, vice president for bridge projects at Progressive Contractors, Inc. Miller tore out two headrests inside a car to help one woman out. Resourcefully using construction plywood, he and a coworker also carried another critically injured woman to safety. He used his Bethel first aid knowledge to prevent victims from going into shock.
“I want to give the glory to God because He gave me the strength to go down there and just help these people,” says Miller, the son of Bethel alumnus Greg Miller ’73 and the brother of Bethel graduates Josh ’99, Charity (Kardell) ’00, Rebecca ’03, and Nate ’05. To read Miller’s full story, visit www.bethel.edu and type “Matt Miller” into the Search field.