A major bridge into Washington that had been named for a revolutionary war hero was re-named in 1983 for another kind of hero. A snowy day turned tragic when a plane took off from National Airport on January 13, 1982 with its wings heavy with ice. It struggled into the air and then crashed into the 14th St. bridge over the Potomac and slid into the river. Survivors dumped into the icy water were hard to reach through traffic jams in blizzard conditions. Finally, a helicopter crew risked hovering low over the water with ropes. They saw one man repeatedly handing ropes to others before he sank under the water. The repaired bridge now bears his name, but 46 year-old bank examiner Arland D. Williams Jr. was not the only hero that day. Two other men dived into freezing water to save others and the surviving flight attendant gave away the only life jacket she could find.

The Metro had its first fatal accident that same afternoon, killing three.