Dog honored for recovery efforts at I-40 bridge collapse

(Fort Smith-AP) -- Fort Smith, Arkansas, is honoring a six-year-old German shepherd who helped recovery efforts at an Oklahoma bridge collapse in May. <br><br>The dog -- named Max -- also helped in searches

Monday, December 23rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Fort Smith-AP) -- Fort Smith, Arkansas, is honoring a six-year-old German shepherd who helped recovery efforts at an Oklahoma bridge collapse in May.

The dog -- named Max -- also helped in searches after last year's terrorist attacks in New York.

Max received Fort Smith's first-ever Mayor's Animal Hero Award with his owner -- Jasmin Fraleigh of Fort Smith.

Mayor Ray Baker read a proclamation, put a medal around the dog's neck and gave him some snacks.

The bridge collapse near Webbers Falls resulted in 14 deaths and closed a section of Interstate 40 for most of the summer. A federal investigation says a tow boat captain suffered a blackout just before a barge slammed into bridge pilings and brought down the structure.