Community remembers Queen Isabella Causeway collapse, 24 years later

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A memorial service marking the 24th anniversary of the Queen Isabella Causeway collapse was held Monday.

The Port Isabel and South Padre Island community took a moment to remember the victims and survivors of the tragedy.

The bridge collapsed after a barge struck a supporting pillar, causing 11 drivers and passengers to drop over 100 feet into the Laguna Madre water.

Many Valley residents thought the collapse was connected to the 9/11 terrorist attacks that occurred four days earlier.

"We're here to memorialize those who passed away. It's a tragic event that occurred back in 2001, and we want to keep them in our memory," said South Padre Island City Councilman Kerry Schwartz.

Of the 11 people who dropped into the water, eight of them did not survive.

"There were a lot of heroes during that time when the bridge collapsed, but we lost friends," Schwartz continued.

The victims of the collapse were identified as follows.

• Robert "Bob" Harris, of Port Isabel
• Hector Martinez Jr. of Port Isabel
• "Harpoon" Barry Welch of Port Isabel
• Chelsea Welch of Port Isabel
• Julio Mireles of Los Fresnos
• Robin Leavell of Mercedes
• Gaspar S. Hinojosa of Kingsville
• Stvan Francisco Rivas of Humble

Survivors of the causeway collapse are Rene Mata, Gustavo Morales, and Bridgett Goza.