3 musicians crushed in Bolivian Carnival parade

A man dressed in a Chuta costume stands behind event organizers, waiting to compete in the selection of the Carnival characters Chuta, Pepino and Chola for this year’s Carnival in La Paz, Bolivia, late Friday, Feb. 14, 2014. Bolivians compete in their local communities to be chosen as of the three main beloved Carnival characters who represent gaiety. The trio of Carnival royalty must be adept at spreading happiness and never tire of dancing, as the people chosen assist all official Carnival events starting March 1. AP

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivian authorities say four people were killed and more than 60 injured when an overloaded metal footbridge collapsed onto a group of musicians marching in the opening parade of Carnival in the highlands city of Oruro.

Interior Minister Carlos Romero said three of the dead were musicians.

Dozens were on the bridge when it collapsed and the normally festive, even raucous, parade of colorfully clad musicians and dancers became a funereal march.

The four-day annual event is Bolivia’s most celebrated festival, drawing at least 20,000 musicians and dancers, and tens of thousands more tourists to the regional capital.