He saved his life by stopping traffic on the west side of the bridge on I-40. Pollard was on duty as a police officer at Webbers Falls when the bridge collapsed. “We haven’t decided for sure yet,” Pollard said. “I don’t know if we’ll do any more after this 20th anniversary,” Pollard said. ‘A helpless feeling’: Witnessing the Webbers Falls bridge collapse still thinks about the lost I-40 Bridge Disaster: How this Oklahoma reporter navigated tragedy and uncertainty covering the I-40 bridge disaster Pollard speaks to remember the 14 victims killed at the ceremony on Monday, May 30, 2022. Webbers Falls, Oklahoma Mayor John Pollard was a police officer when the Interstate 40 bridge collapsed on May 26, 2002. Webbers Falls Mayor John Pollard said the ceremony has been significant, especially since it was canceled over the past two years due to COVID-19 and flooding in 2019. “She met the end of her life on the bridge,” said Barlow. Shanahan, 49, of Stockdale, Texas, was a professional barrel racer and horse trainer returning to Texas after a Futurity competition in Fort Smith. Former Mayor Jewel Hall, organizer of the memorial ceremony, is holding an event on Monday, May 30. Janet Barlow of Wimberley, Texas, left, talks about Gail Shanahan, who died in the collapse of the Weber’s Falls Bridge in 20902. Janet Barlow of Wimberly, Texas, traveled to Webbers Falls on Sunday to remember victim Gail Shanahan. Watching my kids grow up and knowing that Shay is just a year and a half older than my youngest daughter.” There’s a difference.” I have the holidays with the kids, stuff like that. She said the holidays are difficult even after two decades.īilly Appler said, “It’s a weird time that it hits you. We won’t know for sure by Tuesday evening.” Didn’t run,” Appler recalls. We were trying to catch them on their cellphones, (James and Misty Johnson) and just unknown. “It was a phone call from my mom asking me if I was okay. ‘I was shocked’: Webers Falls Bridge recalls first soldier scene to arrive at disaster Gone but not forgotten: Former Mayor to Host Memorial in Honor of Webers Falls Bridge Tragedy Everyone loved Jim,” Appler said.īilly Appler said he remembers “disbelief” when he answered a telephone call from his mother about the tragedy at Weber’s Falls 20 years earlier. He was a great guy in our area in our community. She spoke about her late brother in Webbers Falls on Monday. She said she lives with memories of losing three family members out of the 14 who died. Surviving family members of 14 victims made the trek to Webers Falls for a Memorial Day celebration on Monday, two decades after the tragedy.īilly Appler of ALMA is the sister of James Johnson who was in Webbers Falls on Monday.
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