Expect detours for up to six months after a barge on the Arkansas river crashed into pylons supporting Interstate 40 in eastern Oklahoma, collapsing both the east- and westbound lanes and sending cars and trucks plunging into the river below.
Sunday morning, a tugboat operator lost control of two empty barges, ramming them into the bridge supports of I-40 about 35 miles west of the Arkansas state line. At least nine bodies have been pulled from the water, and more are believed to be trapped in submerged vehicles.
As officials tried to determine the best detour routes, traffic backed up on two-lane state highways. One truck driver told the Associated Press he experienced an hour-long delay. Officials are asking travelers to avoid eastern Oklahoma altogether if possible. If you must go through that part of the state, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is recommending that eastbound travelers take State Highway 2 south from Warner, then turn east on State Highway 9, and north on U.S. 59 to I-40 near Sallisaw. Westbound travelers have a shorter detour, turning north on State Highway 10, west on U.S. 64, then south on State Highway 100 to I-40. Travelers from northeast Oklahoma that need to travel east on I-40 are being detoured at U.S. 412 to Springdale, Ark., where they can take U.S. 540 south to I-40 in Ft. Smith.
At least two truck drivers survived the plunge into the icy waters, according to published reports. Six to eight tractor-trailers are believed to have fallen from the bridge when it collapsed.
Rodney Tidwell, a 37-year-old trucker from Ripley, Miss., believes his seat belt – which he normally doesn’t use – helped him survive the 60-foot fall. Two people in a boat pulled him from the water. He was taken to the hospital with broken ribs and lacerations.
James Bilyeau, 67, a truck driver from Conway, Ark, was also pulled from the water, by fishermen competing in a bass tournament near the bridge. Bilyeau reportedly took a breath inside the cab after it hit the water and then floated out to the surface. He was hospitalized with head injuries.
Sunday morning, a tugboat operator lost control of two empty barges, ramming them into the bridge supports of I-40 about 35 miles west of the Arkansas state line. At least nine bodies have been pulled from the water, and more are believed to be trapped in submerged vehicles.
As officials tried to determine the best detour routes, traffic backed up on two-lane state highways. One truck driver told the Associated Press he experienced an hour-long delay. Officials are asking travelers to avoid eastern Oklahoma altogether if possible. If you must go through that part of the state, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is recommending that eastbound travelers take State Highway 2 south from Warner, then turn east on State Highway 9, and north on U.S. 59 to I-40 near Sallisaw. Westbound travelers have a shorter detour, turning north on State Highway 10, west on U.S. 64, then south on State Highway 100 to I-40. Travelers from northeast Oklahoma that need to travel east on I-40 are being detoured at U.S. 412 to Springdale, Ark., where they can take U.S. 540 south to I-40 in Ft. Smith.
At least two truck drivers survived the plunge into the icy waters, according to published reports. Six to eight tractor-trailers are believed to have fallen from the bridge when it collapsed.
Rodney Tidwell, a 37-year-old trucker from Ripley, Miss., believes his seat belt – which he normally doesn’t use – helped him survive the 60-foot fall. Two people in a boat pulled him from the water. He was taken to the hospital with broken ribs and lacerations.
James Bilyeau, 67, a truck driver from Conway, Ark, was also pulled from the water, by fishermen competing in a bass tournament near the bridge. Bilyeau reportedly took a breath inside the cab after it hit the water and then floated out to the surface. He was hospitalized with head injuries.
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