I-40 bridge disaster

A bridge collapse occurred southeast of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, United States, at 7:45 a.m. on May 26, 2002. Freight barges being transported on the Arkansas River collided with a pier supporting the Interstate 40 road bridge crossing the river. The resulting failure of the supports caused a section of the bridge to collapse, killing 14 people and injuring another 11. The collision was determined to have resulted from the captain of the barges' towboat losing consciousness.

Collision and collapse

Joe Dedmon, captain of the towboat Robert Y. Love, was transporting two empty barges on the Arkansas River. While traversing the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir, Dedmon experienced syncope and lost control of the tow. This caused the barges he was towing to collide with a pier of the Interstate 40 bridge crossing the reservoir. A 580-foot (180 m) section of the bridge collapsed, plunging into the water. It was raining heavily at the time of the collapse, but the rain subsided soon afterward. By the time traffic stopped and drivers became aware of the missing road, eight passenger vehicles and three semi-trucks had fallen into the river or on collapsed bridge pieces. Fourteen people died and eleven others were injured when the cars and tractor-trailers fell from the bridge. Survivors were aided by fishermen who were participating in a bass fishing tournament in the river near the bridge.