Crews told to visually inspect bridges after fatal accident

Thursday, June 10th 2004, 12:07 pm

By: News On 6

PAOLI, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Department of Transportation engineers have begun visual inspections of all bridges that cross interstate highways in the state after a chunk fell from one, went through a woman's windshield and killed her, state officials said Thursday.

Yvonna K. Osborn, 52, of Irving, Texas, was driving on Interstate 35 at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday when the football-sized piece of concrete dropped from a bridge near the Paoli exit, about 50 miles south of Oklahoma City.

The bridge, which was built in 1969, was inspected in November 2002, and it was rated as deficient because of structural issues, said Terri Angier, transportation department spokesman. The chunk fell from below the bridge's deck, a segment of the structure that got a good rating in the inspection.

This is one of 1,600 bridges in the state that are deemed as deficient and in need of replacement, she said. Of those, the department has the money to replace 197 bridges over the next eight years.

``We're certainly not proud of the condition of our bridges,'' Angier said.

She said a combination of moisture and vibration likely caused the chunk to dislodge.

``Its a freak accident,'' said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. Chris West said. ``Had it broke loose a half-second sooner or later, it wouldnt have hit her.''

Angier said pieces have been known to fall from bridges, but most land harmlessly.

West said that in his 20 years with the patrol, he has heard only of a couple of other instances where pieces of overpasses struck vehicles, but no injuries were involved. Most reports of vehicles being struck from overhead are the result of people throwing objects, he said.