Minneapolis ? It’s hard to imagine anyone surviving a six-story drop into the Mississippi River.

But it’s now apparent that the vast majority of those who were on the Interstate 35W bridge when it collapsed Wednesday escaped with relatively minor injuries.

Although the final death toll is still unknown, doctors and safety experts say a combination of factors, from physics to shock absorbers, probably helped cushion the blow for those plunging from the bridge in their vehicles.

In general, they say, the cars and the bridge itself helped absorb some of the impact that would have killed someone free-falling from that height.

“I would say over two-thirds of the people walked away,” said Dr. Marc Conterato, an emergency room physician at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minn., who was at the site. “Believe me, the human body can absorb a lot of trauma.”

As of Sunday, the death toll stood at five, and 24 people remained hospitalized, five in critical condition and four in serious. About 75 others were treated and released. About eight people are missing and presumed drowned.

As tragic as that is, it’s a far cry from what some at the scene expected.

“I figured we’d probably have a couple of hundred injured, and 25 or 50 fatalities,” said Dr. John Hick, an emergency doctor and disaster coordinator at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Many of those treated at hospitals had broken bones, fractures or back injuries from the vertical fall, according to physicians.

“I’ve certainly seen many worse injuries in car crashes,” said Dr. Jeffrey Chipman, a trauma surgeon at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.

Vehicle safety designs probably also played a role, said Lanny Berke, a mechanical engineer and safety specialist who is a frequent expert witness in accident cases. At the same time, he said, seat belts and airbags could have helped others survive.