Last week, after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore, the Oklahoma media quickly assembled into “Remember When” mode and reminded everyone about the I-40 bridge collapse that occurred near Webbers Falls on Memorial Day weekend in 2002, killing 14 incredibly unlucky souls who died in one of the most bizarre and random ways imaginable.
I was floating on the Illinois River with some friends in Tahlequah, only about 30 or so miles away from the bridge when the collapse happened. We were pretty far off the grid and heard rumors of the collapse from some fellow floaters, but had no idea of the magnitude until we saw the cover of the Muskogee Phoenix the following day at a restaurant called Steak and Eggs.
I remember saying out loud the same thing the victims likely thought as the bridge gave way – “What the F***********ck!?”