Barges strike bridges crossing Ohio River

Barges strike bridges crossing Ohio River Highway and railroad bridges crossing the Ohio River near Parkersburg, W.V. were closed for inspections Wednesday after being struck by barges that broke free from a towboat.
   The Parkersburg Highway Bridge between Ohio and West Virginia was closed for several hours for inspections and when the barges were moved.
   At 12:50 p.m., the towboat Darin Adrian was pushing 12 barges up the Ohio River in the vicinity of mile marker 184 when a swift current may have caused it to hit the CSX B&O railroad bridge.
   Ten of the barges were pinned up against the right bank and two barges drifted away and hit the Parkersburg Highway Bridge. The Darin Adrian was able to retrieve the two barges with the help of tow boats Carol Neel and James Murphy.
   CSX was also contacted to send inspectors to assess its bridge.