LONG BEACH – At the same time arches of kites were being raised at the start of the 2005 Washington State International Kite Festival, the Long Beach arch spanning the Bolstad beach approach was coming down.

Early Monday morning, around 8:30 a.m., a Harbor Pacific Bottling Co. Pepsi delivery truck, driven by Christopher Shook, accidentally clipped the upper right corner of the arch, causing the whole top portion to come crashing down.

“I thought, ‘he ain’t going to make it,'” said Barry Tislow from Seattle when he witnessed the truck attempting to drive under the arch. “I could not believe what I was going to see.”

“It shook everything,” said Susan Tislow, his wife.

Some visitors staying at the Pacific View Motel, located next to the arch, said the jolt of the impact was so great they thought it was an earthquake and briefly considered heading for the hills, concerned about a tsunami, before they realized what had happened.

The massive, solid concrete arch narrowly missed the roof of the truck when it fell, lodging between the cab and trailer just behind the gas tank, pinning the truck in place. Although the driver and passenger, Jesse Ramsey, where clearly shaken, no injuries were reported.

“It could have just as easily fell on the cab and smashed us,” he was overheard to say.

“The great news is nobody got hurt,” said city administrator Robert Strope of the accident, a sentiment echoed over and over.

“It could have been much worse,” said Barry, surveying the damage.

Spectators soon gathered to view the impressive sight. News of the accident spread quickly.

“I heard about it and came down,” to see it, said David Goss of Costa Mesa, Calif., in town for the kite festival.

The crowd’s mood turned toward the ironically humorous as locals and visitors alike took the situation in good-natured stride. Jokes started to circulate.

“We got milk but we won’t have Pepsi for a while,” said Kris Unruh with a smile. Her brother-in-law works with the local dairy company, Dairy-Aire.

The Tislows said they have been coming to the area for many years, and have lots of pictures of the arch, but “this is the first time seeing it on the ground.”

Soon people were asking if they could have pieces of the arch, chunks of which were scattered around.

Dale Ballinger took several pieces for a friend who has a vacation home in the area. “It might mean something to him,” he said. Then he smiled. “I don’t know if he’ll sell it on e-Bay or something.”

“I didn’t get to Berlin,” said Jenelle Tabor of Seattle, comparing her pieces of arch to the chunks of the infamous German wall collected by many as souvenirs when it was torn down in 1989. “This is a landmark. This is a little piece of history.”

Tabor said she had planned to take pictures of her kids under the arch later in the day. But now, naturally, her plans will have to be modified. Instead, she said, she will simply line them up between the two still standing pillars and have them hold up her collected pieces, a shot which may turn out to be far more unusual and historical.

The arch was first built in the early 50s. The plaque attached to the left pillar reads “Erected and dedicated by Long Beach Chamber of Commerce to the town of Long Beach AD 1953 1954.” Since then it has become a symbol of the city.

This is not the first time the arch has been damaged. On March 9, 1990, a boom truck ran into the arch, cracking it. The accident occurred when the boardwalk was being constructed. Although the arch did not completely fall that time, it was removed and replaced. It cost Quigg-McDonald Construction Co., the boom truck operators, $15,000 to repair the damage.

“It’s a black day in Long Beach,” a March 14, 1990, Chinook Observer article quotes then city clerk Nabiel Shawa as saying. “We’re bummed.”

This time as well, all seem to agree, the arch will be replaced. Some officials suggest it might be modified, either moved further down the beach approach or made larger and higher.

“We’ll have to take a look,” said Strope about the decision. “It’s really early.”

In all likelihood, the subject will be discussed at the next city council meeting.

Shawn Martin with the Harbor Pacific Bottling Co. said they have been in touch with the city concerning the repairs. “We’ve got a handle on it,” he said. Although not official, the company is probably liable for the damage. The driver was cited for violating “limitations on speed, weight, or size and transversing bridges, elevated structures, tunnels and underpasses,” which could result in a $101 fine. In addition, there was a “road closed” sign located under the arch when the accident happened.

Certainly the arch holds a special spot in many hearts, apparent from the number of people who remained to watch the Dennis Co. boom truck lift it clear of the Pepsi truck. They still stayed as it was cut in half so it could be removed. Despite the jokes and humor, many were saddened by the arch’s loss, even if it is only temporary.

“It looks empty, doesn’t it,” said Susan Tislow, her voice tinged with melancholy, looking at the approach after the road had been cleared.

“It’s terrible,” agreed her husband Barry.