A barge struck the Caruthersville Bridge that connects Caruthersville, Missouri with Dyer County, Tennesse on Interstate 155. The bridge was shutdown while being inspected for damage, but was later reopened later the same day. The cause of the allision was not reported, but the Coast Guard is conducting an investigation into the accident.
The 168 foot long towboat Jay Luhr allided with a Railroad Bridge near Thebes, Illinois on the Mississippi River causing all 25 barges loaded with rock to break loose. Twenty four barges have been recovered with one still in the waterway. No reports of injuries or pollution being released. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
A towboat with 20 barges loaded with coal struck the center pier of the Westbound lanes of the Natchez–Vidalia Bridge which crosses over the Mississippi River. Local residents reported that the collision was loud enough to hear along the bluffs overlooking the river. Officials closed the bridge for several hours to inspect the bridge. The inspections found no problems stating the damage was limited to a few scrapes on the pier. Two of the 20 barges sank after the collision. One is in deep water directly under the bridge while the other is downriver on the right bank. The barge owners stated they will be working with a salvage company to recover both barges.
