FALL RIVER — Joao Medeiros was cruising along Interstate 195 in the family van with his wife and children, when suddenly — despite clear road ahead — they crashed into something. They were rocked forward, pitched upside down, then right side up again, but in the air. The van tumbled end-over-end once more and landed on its roof, grinding along the pavement. 

His daughters, ages 7 and 4, were suspended upside down by their seat belts. His wife, Beatrice, suffered two broken ribs.  

Behind them, other vehicles began piling up, crash after crash, drivers stunned. 

It was rush hour in Fall River underneath Government Center, on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 3, 1999 – when, 25 years ago this week, the roof fell in. 

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.