Aggies building Bonfire, a tradition dating back to 1907 that symbolizes students' “burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u.,” heard a loud popping sound moments before the bonfire stack collapsed. The collapse killed 12 Aggies and injured 27 others.

A panicked Richard and Janiece West were glued to the radio as they drove to College Station on Nov. 18, 1999. The Bellaire couple hadn’t heard from their 19-year-old son since they woke up that morning to learn that the 59-foot bonfire he and his friends were building had crumpled beneath them overnight.