The Latest: Barges hit Vicksburg bridge, 2 may have sunk
VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) – The Latest on flooding along the Mississippi River (all times local):
11:15 a.m.
Media are reporting that at least two barges may have sunk in the Mississippi River after a towboat pushing 30 barges struck the old U.S. 80 Bridge.
Warren County Emergency Management director John Elfer tells The Vicksburg Post (http://bit.ly/1RJBgqT ) the barges were carrying dry goods, possibly grain and coal. He says the barges struck the bridge at about 8:40 a.m. Tuesday.
Elfer says an American Commercial Barge Lines boat was pushing the barges south they hit a bridge support and broke loose. The newspaper reports no one was injured.
Bridge superintendent Herman Smith says the company is working to gather the barges.
The Coast Guard was not able to immediately comment on the accident.
Monday night, another set of barges struck the Helena Highway Bridge farther north on the river. The Coast Guard says two barges were damaged in that incident.
