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Part Of Ohio River in Kentucky Re-Opened After Barge Mishap

Posted at 3:18 PM, Dec 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-29 15:18:59-05

Ohio River reopens after tugboat, coal barge accident

(WAVE 3)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The Coast Guard says a section of the Ohio River in Kentucky has re-opened after a tugboat and coal barge accident forced its closing.

Coast Guard officials say a towing vessel was pushing 15 loaded coal barges when it hit the 2nd Street Bridge on the Ohio River in Louisville on Tuesday.

The crash caused 15 barges to break free. The Courier Journal reports four barges have sunk.

Coast Guard officials said late Friday that the Ohio River has reopened to all vessel traffic from Twelve Mile Island to McAlpine Lock and Dam.

A city official says the coal spill is not expected to affect drinking water. Louisville Water spokeswoman Kelley Dearing Smith said the city’s intake facility is located upstream from the where the barges sank.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

12/29/2018 2:03:04 PM (GMT -5:00)