Trucker Dies as Calvin Bridge Collapses in River Tragedy
The Calvin bridge collapse on U.S. 75 near Calvin Oklahoma left two Tulsa truckers dead, Kenny Joe Mills 26 and Gene Cummings 37, with Mills trapped under debris for 26 hours as rescue teams labored to recover him. A Holdenville woman, Marie Morrow 56, suffered a broken hip.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Calvin
State Highway Department
Tulsa
U.S. 75
Kenny Joe Mills
Gene Cummings
Oklahoma City
Highway Department
Tragedy Under Bridge Collapse Witnesses Describe Explosion Like Break
Recovered man’s body retrieved after workers used bulldozers shovels water pumps and a cutting torch to free him from a damaged river bridge. Eyewitness James Hebert and his son Larry of Wetumka details the northbound truck and southbound vehicle collision that caused three breaks in the bridge. Hebert saw beams collapse and a car vanish in moments as smoke filled the scene. Detours are being set by highway crews to reroute traffic.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tulsa
James Hebert
Larry
Wetumka
Hebert
Highway Department
Boren Sets Emergency Session on Calvin Bridge Collapse
Gov. David Boren called a 3 p.m. Friday emergency meeting of the State Highway Commission to authorize rapid actions after the U S 75 Calvin bridge collapse. The plan includes expediting two new contract awards for Atwood bridge approaches, with an opening target of August 1, and hiring Modjeski and Masters for a formal investigation into the collapse. A National Transportation and Safety Board representative will assist the preliminary inquiry, and a disaster funds pathway may be opened through a formal emergency proclamation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
State Highway Commission
U.S. 75
Calvin
David Boren
Atwood
Highway Commission
Atwood Bridge
Modjeski and Masters
Mechanicsburg
State Highway Department
National Transportation and Safety Board
Oklahoma
NTSB
Boren
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Don Cook
Calvin Bridge
Pat Upton
dKobioie
Niirte Bank
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation