April 6, 2016
NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is responding to an allision and barge breakaway on the Mississippi River at mile marker 43.7 near Thebes, Illinois, Wednesday.
The Coast Guard has closed the Mississippi River from mile marker 30 to mile marker 44 after the tow vessel Michael G. Morris allided with the Thebes Railroad Bridge at mile marker 43.7, causing the 30 barges it was pushing to breakaway.
One barge reportedly struck a barge of another tow vessel and one barge containing soybeans is reportedly sinking.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.