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Posted in Barge Accidents,Louisiana Maritime News,US Coast Guard (USCG) on May 16, 2011
Baton Rouge, LA – On Saturday, May 14, 2011 two dozen barges were being towed in the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, LA when 4 of the barges got loose. Two of the stray barges struck the Old Mississippi River Bridge.
The Old Mississippi River Bridge where the I-10 runs through was shut down for a few hours on Saturday, may 14, 2011 after a barge accident where two barges got away and struck the bridge.
Baton Rouge is located in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana in the southern part of the state about 81 miles northwest of New Orleans.
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The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. It is unclear how the barges got loose, but officials are currently investigating the cause of the accident.
The bridge is part of the Interstate highway system and carries vehicle traffic on the I-10 between east and west parishes of Baton Rouge across the Mississippi River.
Location of the Old Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, LA where it was struck by 2 barges on Saturday, May 14, 2011.
The bridge was shut down for a few hours while officials from the state Department of Transportation and Development checked for damage. At about 4:00 p.m. the bridge was re-opened.
The story was reported in an article at the Advocate website:
Lt. Matthew Cooney, chief of response at the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Office of Baton Rouge, said a 24-barge tow got loose and four barges crashed into the bridge.
Sheriff Mike Cazes confirmed Saturday that the bridge has been reopened to traffic, but said he couldn’t offer any other information.
Two of the barges were reported to have been sitting sideways in the river and one of them that struck one of the bridge supports was reported to be taking on water.
Another one of the barges that got away was reported to be adrift near the Placid Refinery in Port Allen.
Fortunately, there were no reports of any injuries or hazardous spills as a result of the accident.
Related searches:
Barge Injury Lawyer
Maritime Lawyer
Louisiana Maritime Lawyer