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Oklahoma State Patrol diverting traffic after barge hits bridge

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Oklahoma State Patrol diverting traffic after barge hits bridge
A boater takes a photo of a barge which struck a bridge on the Arkansas River in Sallisaw, Ark., Saturday, March 30, 2024. The Oklahoma State Patrol said Saturday that it closed a highway south of Sallisaw after the collision. (Dayton Holland via AP)

SALLISAW, Okla.  — The Oklahoma State Patrol said Saturday, March 30, that it closed a highway south of Sallisaw after a barge struck a bridge over the Arkansas River.

Troopers closed South U.S. Highway 59 about 1:25 p.m. after receiving word of the incident and diverted traffic from the area, state patrol spokesperson Sarah Stewart said. The bridge, which crosses the Arkansas River where it enters the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir, will remain closed until it can be inspected, she said.

There were no reports of injuries on the highway or the barge, Stewart said.

It was not immediately known what caused the barge to hit the bridge.

The news came as engineers worked Saturday to lift a section of twisted steel from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland after it crumpled into the Patapsco River as a massive cargo ship crashed into one of its main supports.

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The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. The Trucker Media Group is subscriber of The Associated Press has been granted the license to use this content on TheTrucker.com and The Trucker newspaper in accordance with its Content License Agreement with The Associated Press.
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