#Webber falls ok barges drivers
#Webber falls ok barges driver

Aerial footage from the Oklahoma City television station KFOR showed the moment of impact shortly before noon Thursday. The barges have been floating out of control, on and off again, since Wednesday night near the town of Webbers Falls. Germany says the concern was that the barges would block the water flow through the dam, but said the water initially appeared to be flowing well. Muskogee County Emergency Management spokeswoman Tricia Germany says the barges were carrying fertilizer. Two barges that broke loose on the swollen Arkansas River have struck a dam in Oklahoma, and at least one sank into the river. “It's just part of our history now.Two barges that broke loose on the swollen Arkansas River have struck a dam in Oklahoma, and at least one sank into the river. “I’m sure we’ll be looking at it,” Cole said. Coincidentally, Cole’s 50-year high school graduation reunion will take place at the park in June. The bridge collapse is now a part of Webbers Falls.Ī monument to those lost was erected in Webbers Falls City Park a year after the collapse. 'Very surreal, tragic time': ODOT spokeswoman remembers 2002 Webbers Falls bridge collapse Gone but not forgotten: Former mayor to host memorial in honor of Webbers Falls bridge tragedy

“The real heroes are those fishermen that pulled that trucker out of the water and those divers that had to go down and do other recovery,” Cole said. Barton was then able to rescue another driver, James Bilyeu, from the river.

#Webber falls ok barges driver

Barton said Wilhoit and another fisherman, Kirk Washburn, then sprung to action and pulled truck driver Rodney Tidwell from the water. In a 2002 interview with CNN, bass fisherman Norman Barton credited angler Alton Wilhoit with firing the flare.

#Webber falls ok barges drivers

One fisherman had fired a flare into the sky, potentially alerting drivers to the danger and allowing them to stop in time. (THECOUNT) - Four more barges in the Arkansas River in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, have broken loose from their moorings and the Governors Office is actively monitoring the situation right now which is reportedly 'stalled.' The owner of the new barges is the same owner of the barges that hit Webbers Falls Lock and Dam 16 Thursday. Bodies continued to be recovered for four days.Ĭole talked to other bystanders and later learned of the rescue efforts by law enforcement and the fishermen he had seen that morning on his way to work. In total, 14 people died and 11 were injured. “I think he had to hotwire the car.”īut in an instant, those fond memories were replaced by tragedy. During the flood two barges broke away from their moorings and drifted from the port down the McClellan Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and slammed into Webbers Falls Lock & Dam 16 on May 23. “I don’t think he found them,” Cole said with a chuckle. His dad dove to the river bottom over and over searching fruitlessly.

He recalls one fishing trip where his father’s keys slipped from his pocket and into the water. Cole said the current didn’t use to be so strong. And he grew up fishing for catfish here with his father, who would paddle an old rowboat out into the river to set up trout lines. He and some friends water-skied here after graduating from high school. Check out the Webber Falls Lock and Dam to watch barges travel through. You just always wish there was something you could have done.”Ĭole knew this stretch of the river well. And the water was swift, it was really moving.