Traffic on Cumberland River is Re-Opened After Barge Accident Knocks Down Power Line

Posted in Barge Accidents,Tennessee Maritime News on October 4, 2013

NASHVILLE, TN — River traffic was shut down Thursday, October 3, on the Cumberland River after an electrical line fell into the water due to a barge accident that struck a power line. Boat traffic was re-opened later in the afternoon several hours after the incident.

Boat traffic is re-opened on Oct 3, 2013 on the Cumberland River after a barge struck down a power line into the water along Visco Drive near Shelby Park. PHOTO: The Tennessean.

According to authorities, the accident occurred at about 10 a.m. Thursday morning, October 3, after a barge carrying a crane hit wire conductors, sending at least one downed power line into the water near Shelby Park. The downed line was reported in the Cumberland along Visco Drive, according to a Nashville emergency dispatcher.

The Nashville Electric Service issued a statement that said the lines were also tangled up in the crane and were de-energized. The NES went on to say that there was no apparent damage to the towers, and there were no outages. No injuries were reported.

The incident remains under investigation at this time.

Blog post by barge injury lawyer Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP