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CNN Live Today

Investigation Continues into why Barge Hit Bridge

Aired May 27, 2002 - 14:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And now to Oklahoma, where investigators are still trying to figure out how an experienced barge pilot happened to cause an accident that devastated a heavily traveled bridge across the Arkansas River.

CNN's David Mattingly has the latest now from the town of Webbers Fall.

Dave, we're still waiting to hear from officials, in about an hour, but what do you know right now?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, so far four badly damaged vehicles have been pulled from the waters of the Arkansas River, and with each recover the death toll to this holiday tragedy continues to grow.

Four dead so far, more expected, as a crane guided by divers pulls each of the cars up.

Work is going slowly. There is the river current to content with. Also, poor visibility. The water is very murky. And we're getting a little rain right now, so that won't be helping.

As the recovery continues, so does the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board is examining why the barge captain lost consciousness at such a critical time, and was the bridge itself structurally sound.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE BLACK, NTSB: We're also looking at what caused the barge to go into the bridge, which is the initial event, apparently. But then once that happened, should the bridge have fallen? Was it designed within standards? Is there something that we can do in the future to keep events like this from occurring? That's what we're looking at.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: And, of course, everyone this afternoon is talking about truck driver Rodney Tidwell. He was the truck driver who survived the 100 foot fall from the bridge into the river.

He told us earlier that it was because it was the first day he decided to wear a seatbelt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RODNEY TIDWELL, COLLAPSE SURVIVOR: All I know is, I don't know how I got out of my truck. There was two people in a boat. I know one of them was Alton Wilholt (ph). He pulled me out the water. Then another man and woman took me to the hospital.

I'm going home, and I got three small kids. I'm going to be with them awhile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Rodney Tidwell, one of five survivors to this Memorial Day weekend tragedy -- Carol.

LIN: Dave, a quick preview of this news conference we're expecting at 3:00 PM Eastern. Is it with the NTSB investigators? And what are they likely to tell us then?

MATTINGLY: This is setup to be the daily briefing from all authorities, so representatives from just about everybody -- state, federal and local -- will probably be there to tell us what sort of progress they have made.

So we'll see as it comes up.

LIN: All right, good enough.

Thank you very much. David Mattingly. I'm sorry you have to stand out in that terrible weather. Dave Mattingly, reporting live from Webbers Fall, Oklahoma.

Well, there is a report that the towboat that hit the I-40 bridge had some past problems.

The "St. Louis Post Dispatch" says the boat has twice had steering problems, and it also reports that the boat slammed into the Eade's (ph) Bridge eight years ago. Those are according to Coast Guard records. The bridge was not open at the time.

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