The remains of two more Interstate 35W bridge collapse victims were identified Thursday before divers temporarily left the Mississippi River to make room for debris-removal crews.

Using two huge cranes, excavation drills and blow torches, workers continued cutting through twisted steel beams, girders and pavement in hopes of locating the remains of what they believe are the last two victims of the Aug. 1 collapse.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office said Vera Peck, 50, drowned. Her vehicle was pulled from the river Wednesday night. Christina Sacorafas-Mosher, 45, died from blunt-force injuries. Her vehicle was removed at 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

That puts the confirmed death toll at 11. Still missing and presumed dead are Greg Jolstad, 45, a construction worker from Mora, Minn., and Scott Sathers, 29, of Maple Grove.

Randy Mitchell, a Defense Department spokesman at the wreckage site, said Navy and FBI divers were working hand-in-hand with Bolander & Sons crews to clear debris and improve access for divers.

Authorities say they've removed about 80 of the 88 vehicles at the collapse site.

"There's a lot of decking, steel beams and girders that need to be removed ... before the divers can go back in and assess it again," Mitchell said.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said the divers are "chewing up debris and getting it out of the river." In some cases, they have to cut through 13 feet of concrete and rebar to get to vehicles, he said.

After two weeks of recovery efforts, Stanek said the workers are "very focused" on the job, but the work is taking a mental toll. "You're human," Stanek said. "We all have families. Sometimes the job and the personal side can cross over."

'We are in mourning'

Peck was pregnant with her second child when she emigrated to Minnesota from Cambodia in 1980, according to her sponsor at the time, Yanat Chhith. She is survived by her daughters Pollee Chit and Caroline Chit, who live in the metro area.

Peck's third child, 20-year Richard Chit, was with her when the bridge collapsed two weeks ago, trapping their vehicle under the wreckage of cars and concrete roadway. Chit's remains were recovered over the weekend. The two lived in St. Anthony, according to the medical examiner.

"Obviously, we are in mourning right now," David Chit, Richard's father and Peck's former husband, said Thursday.

She worked for 22 years as a production operator on an assembly line at Seagate Technology in Bloomington, before leaving her job last year.

A Cambodian memorial service was held last Saturday for Peck and her son, and a church service is being planned.

A last call

Sacorafas-Mosher was on her way to teach a Greek dance class for children at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis when she called a friend at 5:57 p.m. Aug. 1, apologizing for being late because she was stuck in traffic. The bridge fell eight minutes later.

Her father, Nick Sacorafas, was in the Twin Cities to receive the news that her remains had been found. He is on leave from his job as an adjunct professor at Mesa College in San Diego, a school official said.