A barge accident has closed a section of the upper Mississippi River,
near the border of Missouri and Louisiana, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The barge hit the protection cell of the Louisiana Railroad drawbridge
at river mile 282, a Coast Guard spokesman said.
The tow consisted of 15 dry-cargo barges. Three of them were partially
submerged. Each was carrying an estimated $120,000 worth of corn. Other
barges in the tow escaped serious damage.
The Mississippi was closed for one mile north and south of the bridge.
SUNKEN BARGES BLOCK MISSISSIPPI
SUNKEN BARGES BLOCK MISSISSIPPI
