Myra Eckstein
On the morning of May 5, the 47 meter long towboat Myra Eckstein (MMSI: 367505510) and its tow of barges allided with the Old Highway 80 Bridge on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Myra Eckstein was pushing 25 barges loaded with grain when it struck pier number 4 off the bridge. This is the same location that the towboat Rickey Hughes struck just a few days prior.
Local news reports state the lead barge in the tow struck the bridge before it broke free along with four other barges. Three barges drifted downstream while one other struck pier number 5 of the bridge before it also floated downstream. One barge was holed and sank a short distance downriver. Authorities state the barges did not strike the nearby Interstate 20 bridge.
There were no reports of injuries. Traffic on the Old Highway Bridge has been halted until it can be inspected for damage. The Coast Guard was reported to be onsite at bridge and has launched an investigation into the incident.