Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Talk With Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating

Aired May 27, 2002 - 07:10   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, we want to go back to Oklahoma now where the search-and-recovery operation resumes this morning after Sunday's bridge collapse. It happened on Interstate 40, near the town of Webbers Falls, about 100 miles from Oklahoma City. A 600 foot section of the highway collapsed after being struck by a barge.

As many as 12 vehicles, we are told, may have plunged in the Arkansas River below. Perhaps there are more vehicles there. Three people so far confirmed dead, and that toll will almost certainly rise.

Governor Frank Keating joins us now live from Oklahoma City. And, Governor, we appreciate your time on a rather busy morning for you -- good morning to you.

GOV. FRANK KEATING (R), OKLAHOMA: Good morning, Bill, and happy Memorial Day.

HEMMER: Thank you, and the same, likewise. Last night overnight in the darkness there, and with that current still running pretty strong, was there much progress made, sir?

KEATING: No, unfortunately there wasn't, because the water was so murky, it was rushing so swiftly that they concluded when the sun set, it was time to postpone recovery operations until this morning. They informed me this morning that as soon as the sun is up, they are going to be out there. There is a cluster of cars, anywhere from nine to 15 cars and trucks that are still in the water.

As you have noted, there are three people so far confirmed dead. Obviously that death toll could go considerably higher -- a real sad day for us on Memorial Day.

HEMMER: Governor, does it still appear that the captain of that tug suffered some sort of seizure and perhaps had a blackout or lost consciousness when the tug veered into that bridge?

KEATING: Well, Bill, I talked to one of the fire chiefs yesterday who talked to a member of the crew shortly after the incident, and he indicated that the captain had suffered some kind of seizure. He had fallen from the wheel and was on the floor just obviously after the tug and the two barges had struck the bridge. So there was no evidence, at least thus far, of any suggestion of alcoholism or drug use or anything. It was just apparently this individual had a real bad bout with bad health. But all of that is being investigated now by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Our great concern, our challenge now is to have the Oklahoma Highway Patrol do everything they can to make sure we recover any of those that are still missing.

HEMMER: Governor, I mentioned the river is not deep, about 10 or 11 feet deep in that particular area. The currents, I had mentioned, are pretty strong. What's the challenge for divers right now? And did they have much success yesterday and working into the evening hours?

KEATING: Well, the report that I received from those who were there when I was there was that they barely could see their hand in front of their face.

HEMMER: Wow!

KEATING: Obviously the current was moving very swiftly. It's murky. There had been a lot of water there. But there were literally piles of cars, and they couldn't tell, of course, how many victims there might be in them. But unfortunately, there will be a real sad discovery, I am sure, as the day progresses. But the weather appears to be better, and hopefully we'll get to the bottom. Just a very bad accident -- everybody's worst nightmare on Memorial Day or any holiday.

HEMMER: Yes, as we are watch this videotape, one of the images that is quite clear for our viewers is that part of that bridge still rests on top of the barge. At what point will that barge be able to be moved?

KEATING: Well, yesterday -- late yesterday, there were engineers there from the Department of Transportation -- from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation trying to make decisions as to what should be removed, what should remain. Obviously, that rushing water can do real havoc to any of your best plans, and those decisions and those analyses are going to take place this morning. But it's very dangerous for those divers to get into the water and, of course, suffer the risk of having more of that bridge collapse.

As you noted, about 500 feet -- that's a great, big chunk of that bridge is in the water as we speak, and it's going to be a real mess to get through it, especially in those conditions to try and find out how many other people are killed.

HEMMER: Governor, I only have a little bit of time left here. I-40 is a major thoroughfare for that part of the country. How are you rerouting traffic, and have you been successful at it?

KEATING: Well, the rerouting has been reasonably successful, but of course, that's about 20,000 cars a day that go across that river at that spot. So the challenge for us is to get it repaired as quickly as possible.

Down in Texas when they had a similar problem when the bridge collapsed at Padre Island, they were able to get it up and finished within 76 days. So anywhere between two and six months it's going to take us to clean it up. But obviously, we are going to try to do the best we can, because that is, as you note, a major east-west thoroughfare across the middle of the country.

HEMMER: Listen, good luck, Governor -- thanks for talking today.

KEATING: All right. Thanks so much, Bill.

HEMMER: Governor Frank Keating again in Oklahoma City.

KEATING: Nice to see you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.