Show Nucla Nuda Man Drowns In Dolores River When Bedrock Bridge Collapses Myron A. A Stewart 43 Monday Mon 1 day drowned in the Dolores river when the highway bridge at Bedrock collapsed under the weight of a dump truck loaded with raad road equipment and pullIng pull uH Ing a trailer bearing a cr er Another r man Lewis I. I L. L Johns 27 driver of the tr truck was pulled from the river by bYI witnesses after he swam nearly a quarter of a mile downstream The men were riding In the truck and were en route to repair re reo pair a bridge which was washed out over La Sal creek reek near Par adox As they drove onto the foot wood steel bridge spanning the Dolores the old structure collapsed Johns and Stewart managed to get out o of the cab of the truck after alter It fell fellIn fellin I In the river Mr Stewart was caught in the debris and hung on for about 10 minutes while rescuers attempted to find some someway someway someway way to drag him to shore Eyewitnesses said Stewart apparently had a broken armand armand arm armand and other Injuries lie He lost his hold on the debris and went Into the water lIe He was last seen about feet teet from the bridge The river raised to the highwater high high- water mark by melting snows was from 15 to 20 feet teet deep beneath be neath the bridge and so muddy that the truck and Its load could not be found The bridge is on an west east route from western Colorado to Moab Its collapse with the washout of the Lal Lai Sal creek bridge leaves Bedrock Isolated Paradox valley residents were completely cut off oft and are ting mail mall and emergency supplies sup plies across the stream on a I cable Search for the body of Mr Stewart has continued since the tragedy without success State Patrolman C. C C. C Childers Is In charge of the search being conducted conducted con con- ducted by volunteers In rubber boats sent to Bedrock Tuesday from Grand Junction The river continues high and muddy making the search for the body most difficult The bridge which h gave way I was built in 1912 and sand in 1933 was rebuilt on pilings Colorado road officials are trying to find findan fIndan findan an unused bridge which could be Installed over the Dolores at Bedrock but were not optimistic that such a bridge ge could be found The river Is too deep for tor fora tora a ford It is stated and it may be some time before even a temporary bridge can be put in place The Dolores olores river crossing Is vital In the transportation of uranium ores and it Is possible that the Atomic Energy Commission Com Corn mission will lend Its assistance In a project to replace the bridge quickly Stewart whose home is at Nucla Nucia Colo Cob Is survived by his widow and five children |