09/15/2026
Remembering the Queen Isabella Causeway Collapse.
On September 15, 2001, a tugboat pushing four barges struck the Queen Isabella Causeway, causing sections of the bridge to collapse into the Laguna Madre. Eight people lost their lives, while three others survived the fall.
The tragedy left a lasting mark on our community. The causeway was the only roadway connecting South Padre Island to the mainland, and its collapse temporarily cut off that vital connection. In the days that followed, local fishermen, emergency responders, residents, businesses, and countless others came together to help their neighbors and keep the island connected.
Today, the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway continues to stand as a vital link between South Padre Island and Port Isabel—and as a reminder of the eight lives that were lost:
Robert “Bob” Harris (46, Port Isabel fire marshal)
Hector Martinez (32, Port Isabel)
Barry “Harpoon” Welch (53, Port Isabel)
Chelsea Welch (23, Port Isabel)
Julio Mireles (23, Los Fresnos)
Robin Leavell (29, Mercedes)
Stvan Francisco Rivas (22, Humble)
Gaspar Hinojosa (52, Kingsville)
We remember. We honor. We will never forget.