Flash Flood in Reeves County, Texas

A bridge along Interstate 20 just east-northeast of Toyah over the normally dry Salt Draw failed Sunday evening. This failure was the result of fast-moving flood waters originating from previous heavy rainfall over the Davis Mountains. Hydrologists also credited a residual flow of water through the draw from the Toyah dike break early Sunday for contributing to the gradual process that caused the bridge to collapse. Authorities said that advance warning of additional runoff and flooding allowed the interstate to be closed to both eastbound and westbound traffic at the first sign of danger to the bridge. A state official for the Texas Department of Transportation said that 86 feet of roadway in the eastbound lanes fell into the river, and that additional 40-foot segments on each side of the river were also damaged. On the westbound side, one of the upright supports holding the bridge had moved six to eight inches, opening a crack in the roadway. No fatalities were reported with the bridge collapse, however, five indirect fatalities occurred in a multi-vehicle collision along a detour, U.S. Highway 285, south of Pecos.