Boat Hits Oklahoma Bridge

A barge struck a bridge in Oklahoma last week, resulting in the shutting down of a highway. The collision came just days after a large cargo ship struck and destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, killing several people.

A barge struck a highway bridge near Sallisaw, Oklahoma Saturday leading to the closure of the highway above. The collision along the Arkansas River closed the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 59 during Saturday afternoon.

The bridge remained closed awaiting an inspection. Photos from the scene show damage to one of the pillars supporting the bridge following the collision.

The bridge reopened for traffic later on Saturday.

The collision did not result in any reported deaths or injuries. The cause of the crash is being investigated.

Another Bridge Collision: A large barge crashed into the Arkansas River bridge at the Kerr Reservoir in Sallisaw, Oklahoma causing damage to both the ship and the bridge earlier today. Authorities determined that it was safe to reopen the bridge after an inspection. pic.twitter.com/I0qJihgtNK

— John Cremeans USA (@JohnCremeansUSA) March 31, 2024

The destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge led to a significant outcry regarding the safety of the nation’s bridges. A power outage on the ship is believed to have caused the crash and collapse.

Six construction workers are believed to be dead following the bridge disaster.

Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said last week that there was no hope to find the workers alive.

The workers were fixing potholes along the road on the bridge during the time of the collision. However, the state continued its effort to recover the bodies.

Two people survived the bridge collision, one of whom was hospitalized.

Authorities were able to stop road travel over the bridge following a mayday call from the ship as it lost power. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said that blocking the traffic “saved lives” and called those able to halt the cars “heroes.”

The bridge collapse will have a significant impact on Baltimore and the wider area.

The collapse will affect some of the busiest shipping channels in the United States and could affect the wider economy. This includes the role of the Port of Baltimore, which has the highest automobile cargo traffic of any American port.