![]() ![]() By reopening the bridge in just more than two months after the May 26 disaster, Oklahoma DOT set a record for a project of this size and magnitude. Department of Transportation officials praised the efforts of the public and private sectors in expediting the bride’s repair. 8 deadline set by the project's contractor, which will earn $1.5 million in bonuses for completing the project early. The roadway is reopening 10 days ahead of the Aug. The bridge was reopened to traffic Monday. Since then, as many as 17,000 cars and trucks have been rerouted each day on two-lane highways through Webbers Falls and other small towns. A freight barge had collided with the pier and caused a catastrophic 580-foot collapse. The impact caused the collapse of four spans of the bridge, killing 14 people. There had been a bridge collapse in Webbers Falls at 7:45 a.m. Reports say the driver of the barge, Joe Dedmon, experienced some. ![]() The I-40 bridge, which spans the Arkansas River near Webbers Falls, Okla., was struck on the morning of May 26 by a barge that veered several hundred feet from the river's navigational channel. A bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh on Friday morning, sending three people to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. A 580-foot section of the bridge plunged into the water near Webbers Falls, taking with it several cars and tractor-trailers. far less than the six months originally predicted. ![]() ![]() “And then five pillars or white pillars that represent the five survivors.The I-40 bridge in eastern Oklahoma, which crashed into the Arkansas River in late May after being hit by a barge, has been rebuilt in barely over two months It’s their names is etched on a 14 sided structure and then the broken bridge on top with an Angel that ironically the hand is flying toward the actual bridge on I-40 south,” described Angier. “It’s on black granite that looks beautiful. There is a memorial that was created to honor the 14 lives lost and the five survivors. And she says will never forget the humanity she witnessed, the multiple miracles that she encountered, and the victims. Several lives on a memorial day weekend that were all cut short.Īngier will be forever changed by the event of that day. Travelers Harlis “Wayne” Martin, 49, and his wife Susan Martin, also 49 from Norman lost their lives in the bridge collapse that day.ĭavid Mueggenborg, 52, and Jean Mueggenborg, 51, from Okarche, Oklahoma were also victims.Īnd Paul Tailele, Jr, 39 from Utah also passed away from this tragedy. They were on their way to visit their son and their daughter-in-law in Broken Arrow. Jerry and Patricia Gillion were from Spiro, Oklahoma. Gail Shanahan, 49, and Margaret “Maggie” Green, 45 from Texas were returning home after attending a rodeo in Fort Smith and were two of the victims of the bridge collapse. Her husband Richard was rescued and survived. He was headed to meet his family who had already moved out there for his new position.Īlso, traveling cross country for vacation from Oregon was Jeanine Catherine Cawley, 48. He had just been assigned to the Army Test and Evaluation Command in Alexandria, Virginia. >MORE: Tulsa Zoo planning one of the largest elephant preserves in the countryĪndrew Clements, 35, was on a road trip from California to the East Coast. Jim, Misty, and their 3-year-old daughter Shae were reportedly on their way to the Tulsa Zoo and would be three of the casualties that day. WEBBERS FALLS, Oklahoma (CNN) - Search crews Wednesday recovered the body of a 3-year-old girl who died with her parents when their vehicle plunged into the Arkansas River after a barge. It is believed that five vehicles were on the bridge when it began to give way. The semi could have plunged into the water.Įven 20 years later, the memories of that day are very vivid and real to Angier and she is still moved to tears when speaking about the victims who lost their lives that day.ġ4 people were killed and 11 were injured. WEBBERS FALLS, Okla., May 28 (Reuters) - Rescue workers at a bridge collapse on the Arkansas River recovered six more bodies on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 13, as a sonar-guided. “They set off a flare gun, which actually landed on the windshield of a semi, causing the driver to slam on its breaks and jackknife,” said Angier. They could see vehicles continuing to drive across the bridge towards the opening on the bridge. Which was telling, because we knew there were most likely children submerged,” said Angier.Īccording to Angier, there were fishermen on a boat in the water that witnessed the collapse. “As we walked down to the banks, I remember seeing a diaper in the water. Frank Keating during a press briefing on the Webbers Falls bridge collapse. Terri Angier, the 2002 ODOT spokesperson, with Gov. ![]()
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