Man accused of impersonating Army officer seeks trial

MUSKOGEE (AP) - A man accused of posing as an Army captain at the scene of the Interstate 40 bridge collapse will be tried on a charge of impersonating a military officer.

William Clark, 37, requested a trial after appearing in federal court Thursday and it was scheduled for June 2. He also pleaded guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a handgun.

He said in a jailhouse interview with The Daily Oklahoman that he was dressed in jeans and a shirt when he approached a roadblock about 8 a.m. May 26 about 15 minutes after the bridge over the Arkansas River collapsed.

Fourteen people died when barges being pushed by a towboat crashed into the piers of the Interstate 40 bridge, causing it to fall into the Arkansas River.

Clark was traveling from Fort Hood, Texas, to visit his grandmother in Missouri.

He said a police officer noticed the camouflage fatigues and beret he kept in the back seat of his car. Clark said he always kept a set of fatigues with him because they were comfortable and attracted girls.

He said he offered to help and the officer apparently thought he was with the military so he was motioned toward a boat ramp behind the Webbers Falls City Hall.

He said he told people he was a captain because "no one was doing anything."

Webbers Falls Mayor Jewell Horne said Clark told everyone he was in charge and that everyone from the FBI to local police believed him.

He secured the area from the media and civilians.