 The collapsed section of the Interstate 40 bridge, May 31, 2002 | |
| Date | May 26, 2002 |
|---|---|
| Time | 7:45 am (CDT) |
| Location | Webbers Falls, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°29′10″N 95°05′57″W / 35.4861°N 95.0991°W |
| Type | Accident |
| Cause | Towboat collision with a bridge pier, caused by captain losing consciousness |
| Deaths | 14 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 11 |
The I-40 bridge disaster was a bridge collapse that occurred southeast of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, United States at 7:45 a.m. on May 26, 2002. Freight barges being transported on the Arkansas River collided with a pier supporting the Interstate 40 road bridge crossing the river. The resulting failure of the supports caused a section of the bridge to collapse, killing 14 people and injuring another 11. The collision was determined to have resulted from the captain of the barges' towboat losing consciousness.