The Air China 747 crashed into the sea last week got scant attention. Third world airline. Third world people, with 200 sum/odd lost. The I40 bridge collapse by contrast and with a dozen or so cars and trucks that fell, gets the focus. Is that because there are better pictures? Is that because you and I have traveled that route and crossed that very same bridge? Is that because American lives are more valuable than those of the Third world?

The newspaper reports that the victims were found trapped in their vehicles. I don’t like the description trapped. They weren’t anymore able to ‘swim out of the wreckage then those unfortunates in the airliner. Seat belted in perhaps but not trapped. They were all killed by the impact.