FIU unveils bridge memorial, statue of Alexa Duran

The university held a memorial service on Tuesday to honor the memory of student Alexa Duran and five other victims who were killed when a pedestrian bridge that was still under construction collapsed on March 15, 2018. 

Interim President Kenneth A. Jessell unveiled a bronze statue of Duran, depicted standing in front of flying doves, at a new memorial plaza located near the west end of MMC's Green Library.  

The statue is surrounded by five pillars, which represent the five other victims: Navaro Brown, Brandon Brownfield, Rolando Fraga Hernandez, Osvaldo Gonzalez and Alberto Arias. 

“Seldom does a day go by when I and many at FIU don’t think about what happened to Alexa and the five other victims that perished four years ago,” Jessell said. “While we cannot change the past, we can honor the memory of those we lost.” 

Duran enrolled at FIU in 2017 after graduating from Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School. A political science major, she aspired to attend law school and become a practicing attorney. Duran was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Women's Fraternity. 

“For us, this closes a very painful chapter, a very difficult and painful four years,” said Orlando Duran, Alexa’s father. “We came to accept our loss. We know that Alexa will never come back, but will live with us in the hearts of our friends and family and everyone that knew her." 

At the memorial, Daniel Iglesias, director of Transportation Development at the Florida Department of Transportation, unveiled a rendering of a plaque that will honor the six victims. The rendering contains loving memories of those who passed away from family members who lost their loved ones. 

“The plaque, once fabricated, will temporarily sit near SW 8th Street and SW 109 Avenue until it is permanently installed on the new pedestrian bridge that will be constructed to connect FIU and the City of Sweetwater,” Iglesias said. 

Speaking on behalf of the Duran family, Orlando said that he hopes the world will remember Alexa for who she was. He rubbed the nose of the statue, telling people nearby that he always used to do that. 

"She was a very happy kid, outgoing and very loving,” he said. “She loved her mom.”