LISBON, N.D. (AP) - Lisbon's police chief says a bridge collapsed when a cable snapped, tossing five construction workers into the Sheyenne River.

Police Chief Jeanette Persons said the "freak accident" happened about 2 p.m. Wednesday, when the men were taking a break from a nearby paving job. She said no work was being done on the bridge at the time.

Authorities said two of the men were treated and released while three others were taken to Fargo hospitals. No names or conditions were immediately available.

Authorities estimated the men fell about 15 feet. A co-worker yelled for help and bystanders, sheriff's deputies, firefighters and rescue personnel worked to get them out of water about 2 feet deep.

Investigators are trying to determined what caused the cable to snap.

"There were two other individuals who had just crossed the bridge within 10 minutes of the accident happening," Persons said.

"This is a bridge that is used all the time - by students going to school, people going to doctors' appointments and going to the convenience stores, doing other business or going to church or just for a short walk," the police chief said.