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Posted in Barge Accidents on April 23, 2012
SMITHVILLE LAKE, MO — Rescuers were on the scene using boats and a crane to pull 7 workers to safety from a barge accident that occurred on Friday, April 20 on Smithville Lake. All 7 people jumped for their lives when the barge they were standing on capsized.
Seven barge workers were pulled from the water after their barge capzized in Smithfield Lake, MO on April 20, 2012. All are reported to be in good condition.
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“People can panic and all kinds of bad things can happen, but they remained calm and they were able to get out safely”, said Bill Lowe of the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Map showing location of barge accident and rescue in Smithfield Lake, MO at the County Road W bridge on Smithfield Lake.
The accident occurred at about 9 a.m. when they were preparing to make repairs on the W bridge at the lake.
According to Asst. MODOT engineer, Brian Burger, “They were setting a beam down on to the barge to be used for the support while we do the repair work and when they set it down with the wind being how it was, it was off center a little bit which caused the barge to capsize.”
According to reporter Cynthia Newsome at 41 Action News, they were in the water about 10 or 15 minutes before they were rescued. The water temperature was actually warm at about 65 degrees, but the problem came when the men were hit with 50 degree winds as they were plucked out of the water, posing a risk of hypothermia.
All 7 workers rescued were employees of APAC. The company’s Kansas City Division president, David Guillaume, says one person was taken to a hospital as a precaution because he couldn’t get warm after being taken from the water. He says the six other people on the barge were not injured.
OSHA and other investigators are checking to see what caused the accident and what can be done to prevent this from happening again.
Source: 41 Action News