Barge Accident Occurs at Pier of U.S. 80 Bridge Over Mississippi River in Vicksburg MS

Posted in Maritime Accidents,Mississippi Maritime News on March 27, 2012

VICKSBURG, MS – A barge accident involving the Jeffrey G. Stover occurred Thursday morning on March 22 when the U.S. 80 bridge over the Mississippi River was hit numerous times after 33 of 35 grain barges broke loose from their tow.

Aerial view of the U.S. 80 Bridge over the Mississippi River in Vicksburg, MS where the tow boat Jeffrey G Stover was involved in a barge accident on Thursday, March 22, 2012.

The Jeffrey G. Stover, which is owned by AEP in Cape Girardeau, Mo., was pushing south when the break occurred and pier 4 was hit. The accident occurred about 5:45 a.m. Thursday, according to Bridge Superintendent Herman Smith who said that the cause of the strike was not evident from surveillance video.

Map showing location of a barge accident at the U.S. 80 bridge over the Mississippi River in Vicksburg, MS on Thursday, March 22, 2012.

The Republic reports:

All of the scattered barges had been recovered by midmorning, said Albert Smith, fleet manager at Ergon Marine and Industrial Supply, which routinely directs roundup and recovery in river accidents. The last block of barges was recovered about 8:45 a.m. about 12 miles south of the bridge near LeTourneau landing, he said.

None of the barges sank.

The incident remains under investigation at this time.